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Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Rihanna's father Ronald Fenty dies at 70 after brief illness
Ronald Fenty, father of pop superstar Rihanna, has reportedly passed away at the age of 70. According to Starcom Network News, a Barbados-based radio station, Fenty died early Saturday morning in Los Angeles after a brief illness. An official cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Family members have gathered in California to commemorate his life, with photos showing Rihanna's brother, Rajad Fenty, visiting Ronald at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center earlier this week. Rihanna herself was believed to be with her brother but has not made any public statements regarding her father's passing. Ronald Fenty and Rihanna had a complicated relationship over the years. The singer publicly described their connection as 'really strange' during a 2011 Vogue interview, reflecting on the emotional challenges they faced. He reportedly struggled with addiction, which contributed to tensions, and he divorced Rihanna's mother when the singer was 14. Despite these difficulties, Rihanna and Ronald reconciled for a time. In a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna spoke about separating her father's roles as a parent and husband, acknowledging the positive impact he had on her life. However, the relationship appeared strained again by 2019 when Rihanna sued him over the use of her name in his talent development company. The lawsuit was later dismissed, with both reportedly making amends. Ronald also expressed pride in his role as a grandfather to Rihanna's son, RZA, who was born in May 2022. He shared how Rihanna had brought the child to her home island of Barbados twice and described her as a protective and loving mother. As of now, Rihanna has not publicly addressed her father's death.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rihanna's father, Ronald Fenty, reportedly dead at 70
Fenty, who battled an unnamed brief illness, reportedly passed away in Los Angeles. Ronald Fenty, Rihanna's father, has passed away at age 70. The news was first reported by Starcom Network, a Barbados-based outlet, and later confirmed by People magazine. According to Starcom, Fenty died in Los Angeles following a brief illness. Details surrounding his official cause of death and the exact date have not yet been disclosed. Sources close to the family told Starcom that Fenty's loved ones were by his side around the time of his passing. Photos published by TMZ show Rihanna's younger brother, Rajad Fenty, arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on May 28, with reports that Rihanna was also present in the vehicle. Representatives for the singer have not commented publicly on the matter as of Saturday, May 31. Born Robyn Rihanna Fenty in 1988, Rihanna is the daughter of Ronald Fenty and Monica Braithwaite. The Grammy-winning artist and beauty mogul is currently pregnant with her third child with rapper A$AP Rocky. The couple is already parents to sons RZA, 2, and Riot, 1. Alongside Rihanna and Rajad, Ronald Fenty was also the father to Rorrey Fenty and three children from previous relationships—Samantha, Kandy, and Jamie. While Rihanna's rise to global stardom has often been linked to her Caribbean roots and family legacy, her relationship with her father has been notably complex. In 2009, after the singer was assaulted by then-boyfriend Chris Brown, Fenty spoke to the media about the incident without Rihanna's permission—an action she later addressed in an interview with Vogue, calling it 'really strange.' 'You grow up with your father, you know him, you are a part of him, for goodness' sakes,' she said at the time, per Billboard. 'And then he does something so bizarre that I can't begin to wrap my mind around it.' Despite tensions, Rihanna shared in a 2012 interview with Oprah that she and her father had taken steps to rebuild their relationship. However, strains resurfaced in 2019 when she filed a lawsuit accusing Fenty of using her name and brand without authorization. According to the complaint, he launched a company named Fenty Entertainment and misrepresented himself as her manager to secure business deals. Rihanna later dropped the lawsuit in 2021, just weeks before it was set to go to trial. Ronald Fenty's passing comes during a transformative time for the Fenty mogul as she prepares to welcome her third child into the world. The star has yet to publicly comment on her father's reported passing. More must-reads: Key moments from the third week of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial Zion Williamson sued by a woman alleging the Pelicans star committed sexual violence against her Actor Tray Chaney shares experience after son is injured and house is leveled in tornado: 'PLEASE CHERISH LIFE'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rihanna's Father, Ronald Fenty, Dies at 70 in Los Angeles. Here's all about him and his relationship with the singer
About Ronald Fenty and His Family A Complicated Father-Daughter Relationship Live Events A Time of Personal Change for Rihanna (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Ronald Fenty, the father of global music icon Rihanna, has passed away at the age of 70 in Los Angeles following a brief illness, PEOPLE confirmed on May 31, 2025. The news was first reported by Starcom Network, a Barbados-based outlet, which noted that Fenty's family was present around the time of his passing. However, the official cause and exact date of death have not yet been to TMZ, Rihanna and her younger brother Rajad Fenty were seen arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on May 28, suggesting they were by his side in his final Fenty and Monica Braithwaite welcomed Robyn Rihanna Fenty in February 1988. The couple raised their family in Bridgetown, Barbados, in a modest bungalow on what is now known as Rihanna Drive. The two eventually separated and finalized their divorce in 2002, when Rihanna was Rihanna and Rajad, Ronald and Monica also had a son named Rorrey. Ronald Fenty had three other children — Samantha, Kandy, and Jamie — from previous had a rocky relationship with her father. After the 2009 assault incident involving Chris Brown, Ronald Fenty spoke publicly to the media without Rihanna's consent, which deeply affected her. In a later interview with Vogue, she said: 'You grow up with your father, you know him, you are a part of him, for goodness' sakes! And then he does something so bizarre that I can't begin to wrap my mind around it.'Despite their public tensions, Rihanna revealed to Oprah Winfrey that she eventually reconciled with her father, saying their bond had been 'repaired.' However, friction between them 2019, Rihanna filed a lawsuit against Ronald Fenty, accusing him of misusing her name and brand by founding a company called Fenty Entertainment and allegedly posing as her manager. The lawsuit was dropped in 2021, just weeks before it was due to go to Fenty's passing comes during a significant moment in Rihanna's life. The singer and entrepreneur is currently pregnant with her third child with partner A$AP Rocky. The couple already shares two sons: Rza, 2, and Riot, 1.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tabit Insurance obtains $40m bitcoin-funded facility
Barbados-based Tabit Insurance has secured a $40m insurance facility, capitalised entirely in bitcoin. This enables real-time verification of funds by regulators and auditors, the company press release said, with the capitalisation of the facility in bitcoin touted as an 'industry first'. Tabit also said that all insurance policies and premiums will remain denominated in US dollars, though the capital is held in bitcoin. Commenting on the benefits of the development, Tabit co-founder William Shihara said: 'Our approach to capital allocation underscores our confidence in providing a steady hand to our partners. By combining traditional balance sheet strength with carefully chosen assets like bitcoin, we are able to stay responsive to market shifts and better serve the insurance community. This solution offers a regulated dollar return which we are excited to earn on an alternative asset class such as bitcoin.' Tabit co-founder and CEO Stephen Stonberg stated: 'At Tabit, we saw a clear opportunity to enhance transparency within an industry that has been sorely lacking in innovation. We are eager to move the insurance sector into the future by demonstrating what is possible by allowing an insurer to access a largely new and untapped source of insurance capital: digital assets.' Structured as a segregated cell company, Tabit provides US dollar returns to bitcoin investors. It is licensed by the Barbados Financial Services Commission as a Class 2 insurer. The company offers an array of coverage options in property and casualty, retrocession and specialty reinsurance categories. "Tabit Insurance obtains $40m bitcoin-funded facility " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What makes a rum Jamaican? Question at heart of Caribbean legal dispute
Rum is a key part of Jamaica's cultural identity, but what exactly makes a rum Jamaican? That question is at the centre of a dispute that is continuing to rumble on the Caribbean island, as some producers wish to strengthen rules on what can, and cannot, be called "Jamaica rum". In October of last year, Jamaica's Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) approved amendments to the geographical indication (GI) designation for Jamaica Rum that was originally set up in 2016. The biggest change is that ageing the rum overseas is now prohibited. The amendment was called for by the Spirits Pool Association (SPA), the trade organisation that seeks to speak as a single voice for Jamaica's six rum distilleries - Appleton (which is owned by J Wray and Nephew), Clarendon, Hampden Estate, Long Pond, New Yarmouth and Worthy Park Estate. The SPO's argument is that a stronger GI is needed for the appellation to be officially recognised in its two key export markets – the EU and the US. It says this would give Jamaican rum better protection against competitors, and lead to more drinkers recognising it as a premium product made to high specifications in a certain geographic location. But the amendment has caused quite a stir in Jamaica, because one of the biggest producers claims it would put it out of business. This company, National Rums of Jamaica (NRJ), owns Long Pond and 73% of Clarendon. NRJ is comprised of three shareholders – the government of Jamaica, Demerara Distillers of Guyana and the Barbados-based West Indies Rum Distillery (Wird). The key factor is that Wird has since 2017 been owned by French spirits firm Maison Ferrand. Its business model relies heavily on exporting rum in bulk and ageing overseas - something not allowed under Jamaica's new GI. It argues that rum aged outside of Jamaica is still Jamaican rum, and that the island has exported and aged rum abroad for centuries. And so, the NRJ is appealing the ruling of JIPO, with a hearing scheduled for 28 April. The Spirits Pool Association says that Wird only started to have issues with the geographical indication after its takeover by Maison Ferrard. "What we're saying is, if you truly believe in Jamaica rum, age it in Jamaica," says Christopher Gentles, general manager of the SPA. Rum is typically made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses, the thick treacle-like substance leftover after refined sugar has been produced from the harvested plants. Mr Gentles says that ageing the rum before it is sold is of paramount importance, and that doing so outside of Jamaica invalidates the products authenticity and uniqueness. And so, he adds that "we were a little bit puzzled" by the NRJ's objection. The SPA also points out that exporting and ageing spirits overseas means Jamaica misses out on the value-added processes like refining, bottling, labelling and distributing as well as other secondary benefits to the local economy like rum tourism. Both the NRJ and Maison Ferrard declined to comment. India's spirited rum revolution From 'hellish liquor' to premium product Is rum about to become the new gin? The use of GIs makes a product distinctive, and opens up three potential sources of value, according to Dev Gangjee, professor of intellectual property law at the University of Oxford. "The first is simply a price premium. Research shows products can charge a price that is 1.5 to 2.7 times more than standard." This isn't always reflected in profit as GI products are often more expensive to make, he adds. The second reason is "they anchor production in that region". This stops a product from becoming generic and losing its value - like cheddar cheese, which was originally from a specific part of the UK but is now a by-word for a generalised type of cheese. Lastly, Prof Gangjee says GIs help to advertise the region and "opens up other aspects of history and geography", citing France's successful wine tourism industry. Examples of successful and longstanding GIs are Scotch whisky, champagne, and Parma ham. Another Caribbean country similarly embroiled in a dispute over GI and rum is Barbados. Currently the island doesn't have a scheme. Barbados has five distilleries and four agreed on the wording of a proposed Barbados rum GI. The sole objector was Wird, which owns brands such as Cockspur. Similarly to the situation in Jamaica, it objects to the proposed rules against ageing overseas. The failure by Barbados to obtain a GI has frustrated the other producers, including Richard Seale, owner of the island's Foursquare distillery. "We need to have intrinsic industries that are rooted here, tied here, that cannot be separated from here," he says. Back in Jamaica, the SPA wants the country's rum to apply for the EU's Protected Geographical Indication classification, but this cannot happen until the proceedings at the JIPO have concluded. Mr Gentles hopes that a compromise can be reached, even if it means that both sides are not totally happy. "It is my firm believe that one day we will put this behind us," he says. And while the SPA hopes that a stronger GI will boost acclaim and business, it is also about pride in a product intimately linked to Jamaica's history. In the days following the October ruling Jamaican newspaper, The Gleaner, endorsed the JIPO decision, saying there were many examples of firms "with no association to Jamaica attempting to appropriate the mystique of the island's brand". It concluded: "When foreign entities become owners of uniquely Jamaican products, there should be a commitment to robustly maintain the integrity of the brand." 'I'm a little angry': Canadian firms boycott US products US tech firms feel pinch from China tariffs Luxury lounges: Credit card perks 'we are all paying for' Sweden is 'no longer a country that cannot be trusted'
