Ananda Lewis, a former MTV host and well-known TV personality, has died at the age of 52.
Her sister, Lakshmi Lewis, announced her passing on Facebook on Wednesday, June 11, writing: “She’s free, and in His heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul.”
Back in 2020, Lewis revealed she had been diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. She admitted she had avoided mammograms for years because of a fear of radiation, even though her own mother had also battled the disease.
In an emotional 2024 interview with Good Morning America, Lewis shared that her cancer had progressed to Stage IV. She explained that she initially turned down a double mastectomy because she was overwhelmed with being a full-time mom and homeschooling her son.
“Cancer doesn’t pause life—it happens on top of everything else,” she said.
Lewis said she did not completely reject medical care. Instead, she worked closely with doctors, adjusted her diet, and underwent fractionated chemotherapy—treatment in smaller, targeted doses.
Ananda Lewis began her TV career on Teen Summit, a show on BET aimed at young people. She later became a familiar face on MTV, hosting popular shows like Total Request Live and Hot Zone. In 2001, she left MTV to launch her own daytime talk show.
Before her death, Lewis said she wanted to be remembered as someone who “loved hard, lived loud, and didn’t run from problems.”
BET also paid tribute to her on Instagram, describing her as “a trailblazer, truth-teller, and voice of a generation.”
“She didn’t just host conversations—she created change. Her legacy lives on in every life she touched,” the post read.
Lewis is remembered not just for her work on screen, but also for the inspiration she gave to many through her honesty and courage.
