Rihanna Sues Her Father for Using ‘Fenty’ Name in His Business

Pop icon Rihanna says her father Ronald Fenty is using their family name in his business ventures, accusing Fenty Entertainment LLC in a new lawsuit of misrepresenting its relationship with the singer and designer to enrich itself.

Rihanna uses “Fenty,” her legal last name, in her Fenty Beauty cosmetics line and her Savage X Fenty lingerie line.

Ronald Fenty and Fenty Entertainment have “blatantly” ignored requests to stop exploiting “Rihanna’s name and the goodwill associated with the Fenty brand,” Rihanna says in her Jan. 15 complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Rihanna and Ronald Fenty have a tense and estranged relationship, according to entertainment reporting.

Fenty and Fenty Entertainment are also improperly telling third parties that Rihanna sponsors the company or otherwise works with them, the entertainer says. The misrepresentations are intended to increase the commercial success of the company, she claims.

Rihanna brings claims of false designation of origin, false advertising, and false light publicity. She seeks an injunction.

Fenty Entertainment couldn’t be reached for comment.

Reed Smith LLP represents Rihanna.

The case is Fenty v. Fenty Ent. LLC, C.D. Cal., No. 2:19-cv-00307, complaint filed 1/15/19.