Rihanna has reached a settlement with Ronald Fenty, her father, agreeing to dismiss a lawsuit filed against him in 2019.
RadarOnline reported that the pop star was due to face her father in L.A. federal court on Sept. 22; but it appeared the family preferred to work out their problems out of the public eye.
Rihanna filed suit against her father and his talent management company, Fenty Entertainment, two years ago, alleging use of the Fenty surname to profit off the singer’s celebrity without her approval. Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, has owned a cosmetics brand since 2017 with a similar name, Fenty Beauty.
According to court documents, Rihanna argued her reputation was damaged when it came to dealing with concert venues as a result of her father’s conduct. He was allegedly booking shows for the star even though he was not her agent or manager. Rihanna told the court Ronald Fenty booked a $15 million tour overseas as well as multiple shows in California without her knowledge.
She sought an injunction to stop the allegedly unauthorized bookings, as well as his commercial use of the Fenty name.
Ronald Fenty asked the court to dismiss the suit, arguing he had a right to use his own surname for business purposes. He reportedly also tried to trademark the family name to open a hotel chain, though his application was ultimately rejected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The relationship between father and daughter has historically been strained. In 2009, the singer alleged Ronald Fenty was physically abusive toward her mother and a drug addict. She also reportedly paid $58,000 for him to undergo drug and alcohol rehabilitation. The elder Fenty has given numerous interviews to press in which he publicly criticized the singer’s body and dating habits.
