Rihanna is remembering her father, Ronald Fenty, one year after his passing.
The singer and Fenty Beauty founder paid tribute to her late dad on May 30 by sharing a throwback photo of the two on her Instagram Story. Alongside the image, Rihanna wrote, “1 year of you being my guardian angel” followed by a red heart and dove emoji.
The touching post comes one year after Ronald passed away at age 70 following a brief illness. While Rihanna has largely remained private about her grief, the tribute offered a rare glimpse into how she continues to honor her father’s memory.
As previously reported, Ronald passed away on May 30, 2025, while surrounded by family. Rihanna was reportedly by his side in Los Angeles during his final days. The loss came as the singer was expecting her third child with longtime partner A$AP Rocky.
Over the years, Rihanna’s relationship with her father experienced both highs and lows, but the pair ultimately found their way back to one another. The singer previously spoke about repairing their bond after periods of estrangement and said she was able to make peace with their complicated history.
Rihanna Previously Opened Up About Repairing Their Relationship
Rihanna has never shied away from discussing the challenges she faced with her father.
Their relationship became strained after Ronald spoke publicly about her 2009 assault by then-boyfriend Chris Brown without her permission. The singer later admitted she struggled to understand his decision and publicly expressed her disappointment.
The pair also found themselves involved in a legal dispute in 2019 when Rihanna sued Ronald over allegations that he used the Fenty name and falsely represented himself as her manager through a company called Fenty Entertainment. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed in 2021.
Despite those difficult moments, Rihanna later revealed that she and her father were able to reconcile.
According to People, the singer reflected on their relationship during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, explaining that she eventually came to terms with both his strengths and shortcomings as a parent.
“He taught me everything,” Rihanna said at the time. She added that she had been able to “close that gap” between them.
Ronald shared three children with ex-wife Monica Braithwaite: Rihanna, Rajad and Rorrey. He also had three children from previous relationships.
The Singer Said Her Father Influenced How She Raises Her Own Children
In the months following Ronald’s passing, Rihanna spoke about the lasting impact he had on her life and parenting style.
During an appearance at the premiere of “The Smurfs” in July 2025, Rihanna revealed that many of the lessons she learned from her father continue to shape how she raises her sons, RZA and Riot.
Per Entertainment Tonight, the singer said she wants her children to be adventurous and engaged with the world around them rather than growing up glued to screens.
“No tablet babies,” Rihanna said.
She explained that Ronald helped inspire her love of the outdoors and her fearless personality, qualities she hopes to pass on to her own children. Rihanna also shared that she often imagined what kind of grandfather he would have been to her sons.
The Grammy winner later reflected on their repaired relationship, saying she had come to appreciate the positive role her father played in her life despite the challenges they faced along the way.
One year after his passing, Rihanna’s latest tribute suggests those memories remain close to her heart.
“1 year of you being my guardian angel ❤️🕊️”
