Model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen has shared devastating news about her father, Ron Teigen Sr. The wife of singer John Legend posted a video on Instagram on Thursday of her dad, alongside an emotional message revealing he had sadly passed away.
A Sudden Loss
“Yesterday I woke up with a daddy and went to bed without one,” Teigen posted. The mother-of-four said the day had started as normal: shower, cleaning up toys, answering emails and seeing friends. “And then my dad just like … f****** died,” Teigen wrote.
Teigen shared an emotional tribute for her father following his sudden passing. She reflected on the shock of the loss, noting that despite knowing he was older, the reality hit hard. “I thought that since we talk about it and I’ve come to terms with him always having been an ‘old dad’ that I wouldn’t have fallen to the ground the way I did. I’ve thought about this phone call for years. I’ll be ready.”
A Grateful Heart
Teigen said she took time out a few months ago and during the break wrote her dad a letter telling him how “grateful” she was for him. “About how hard he worked for us growing up and how much I love him,” Teigen said. “I am forever grateful for the moment I handed him the letter, and all our years before.”
Teigen also reflected on lighter memories: “If you didn’t know my dad, my dad hated nearly everything in the world that wasn’t a bass guitar, swing dancing, wood carving, animals, YouTube or his family. I have hundreds and hundreds of videos of him just being mad at things he isn’t even doing, watching or eating.” She said these precious memories make her so “happy” now.
“God I love you so much. I will talk to you every night,” Teigen ended the post. “Thank you for being such a great dad. Until we complain again.”
Tributes from Family
Teigen’s Grammy-award winning singer husband left a tribute of his own in the comments. “We love you so much Papa Ron,” Legend wrote. “I’m so glad you got to spend so much time with your grandbabies. I loved seeing you beam with pride at the beautiful family you helped create.”
Ron was married to Chrissy’s mother Vilailuck, also known as Pepper, for 35 years before their divorce in 2019. The day after Teigen announced her father’s death, Pepper shared a video of what appeared to be a traditional funeral service.
