- Ananda Lewis, an MTV VJ and talk show host, has passed away at the age of 52.
- Lakshmi, the sister of Lewis, announced her death on June 11.
Ananda Lewis, former MTV VJ and host of Teen Summit and The Ananda Lewis Show, has died at the age of 52 following a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
The heartbreaking news was shared by her sister, Lakshmi Lewis, via a Facebook post on Wednesday, June 11. “She’s free, and in His heavenly arms,” she wrote. “Lord, rest her soul.”
Ananda first disclosed in 2020 that she had been diagnosed with stage III breast cancer, attributing her delayed diagnosis to a fear of radiation that led her to skip regular mammograms. In 2024, she revealed that the cancer had progressed to stage IV.
“I couldn’t handle doing such a drastic surgery in my life at that time,” she said during an October 2024 interview on Good Morning America, referring to turning down a double mastectomy. “Cancer doesn’t replace the life you’re already living it just adds to it. And for me, it was just too overwhelming in the beginning.”
Lewis also explained that, despite seeing her own mother go through breast cancer even with routine mammograms, she had opted for alternative monitoring while undergoing fractionated chemotherapy and making lifestyle changes.
Throughout her career, Ananda Lewis was known for her warmth, intelligence, and passion for advocacy. She hosted BET’s Teen Summit for three seasons before moving to MTV, where she became a household name hosting Total Request Live and Hot Zone. In 2001, she left MTV to launch her own nationally syndicated daytime talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show.
Reflecting on her legacy during her final interview, she said, “I loved hard, and lived loud, and didn’t back away from problems. I loved this life and was OK with letting it go too.”
BET paid tribute on Instagram, writing:
“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… Her impact lives on through the countless lives she touched, both on and off screen. We honor the life and legacy of Ananda Lewis—an unforgettable voice, trailblazer, and truth-teller.”
