Ananda Lewis, an MTV VJ and talk show host, has died.
“Lord, rest her soul.” In 2020, Lewis revealed she had been diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer, noting that due to her fear of radiation, she had not been getting regular mammograms.
Lewis hosted BET’s Teen Summit for three seasons and moved on to MTV, where she hosted Total Request Live and Hot Zone.
She left MTV in 2001 to host her namesake talk show.
“We honor the life and legacy of Ananda Lewis—an unforgettable voice, trailblazer, and truth-teller.”
MTV talk show host and VJ Ananda Lewis passed away. 52 was her age.
Lewis passed away on Wednesday, June 11, and her sister Lakshmi announced the news on social media.
She wrote on Facebook, “She’s free, and in His heavenly arms.”. Rest her soul, Lord. “.”.
Lewis disclosed that she had been diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in 2020, adding that she had not been receiving routine mammograms because she was afraid of radiation.
In a roundtable discussion about breast cancer with CNN’s Sara Sidner and her college friend Stephanie Elam, Lewis disclosed that she had stage IV cancer after defying medical advice to have a double mastectomy.
In an interview with Good Morning America in October 2024, Lewis stated, “This was the most drastic surgery I could ever do in my life at that time.”. “I homeschooled my son while I was a stay-at-home mom. Cancer does not take the place of everything else you need to do. In the beginning, cancer was simply too much for me to handle because it comes on top of your life. “.”.
Lewis claimed that she still developed breast cancer even though she had refrained from getting mammograms because she had witnessed her mother do so. According to the former talk show host, she “didn’t turn her back on medicine” and was under medical supervision while undergoing fractionated chemotherapy and dietary modifications.
After hosting BET’s Teen Summit for three seasons, Lewis went on to host Hot Zone and Total Request Live on MTV. In 2001, she departed from MTV to host her own talk show.
“I loved hard, lived loud, and didn’t back down from problems,” she told GMA when asked what she wanted people to remember about her. and was content to let it go because they loved this life. “.”.
In an Instagram post honoring Lewis, BET wrote, “As the host of BET’s Teen Summit, she didn’t just lead conversations—she sparked change, empowering a generation to speak up, love themselves, and think deeper.”. “.”.
“Ananda infused every area she entered with brightness, beauty, and genuineness. Through the innumerable lives she impacted, both on and off screen, her influence endures,” the post went on. “We celebrate the life and legacy of Ananda Lewis, a remarkable truth-teller, trailblazer, and voice. “.”.
