Ananda Lewis Dead at 52: Former MTV VJ Passes Away
The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of Ananda Lewis, the former MTV VJ who passed away at the age of 52. According to a report from People.com, Lewis’s sister Lakshmi announced her death in a Facebook post on Wednesday, June 11.
Early Life and Career
Lewis was born in Los Angeles in 1973 and rose to fame in 1997 when she was hired as one of MTV’s VJs. During her time at MTV, Lewis hosted several shows, including Total Request Live and Hot Zone. In 1999, The New York Times dubbed her "the hip-hop generation’s reigning It Girl." As People.com reports, Lewis’s sister wrote, "She’s free, and in His heavenly arms," alongside a series of broken heart emojis and a black and white portrait of Lewis.
Battle with Cancer
In recent years, Lewis had been open about her battle with breast cancer. In a 2020 Instagram post, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with stage III breast cancer and had chosen not to undergo a double mastectomy. Unfortunately, her cancer progressed to stage IV, and she took part in a roundtable discussion with CNN’s Stephanie Elam and Sara Sidner in October 2024, where she shared her experiences. As People.com notes, Lewis said, "My plan at first was to get out excessive toxins in my body. I felt like my body is intelligent, I know that to be true. Our bodies are brilliantly made."
Legacy and Tributes
Lewis was a popular and influential figure in the entertainment industry, interviewing celebrities such as Destiny’s Child, Brandy, NSYNC, and Britney Spears during her time at MTV. She also covered heavier topics, including violence in schools and the 2001 death of Aaliyah, who was a close friend. In 2000, People.com named Lewis one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World, and she was praised by Prince, who called her "Cleopatra" and said, "You know she’s a queen."
Personal Life
Lewis’s personal life was also subject to media attention. She had a difficult relationship with her mother as a child and teenager, which she discussed in an interview with Teen People in 1999. However, she reconciled with her mother in 1996 and went on to attend Howard University, where she graduated in 1995. Lewis had a son, Langston, with Harry Smith, the brother of Will Smith, in 2011.
Reflection on Her Career
After leaving MTV in 2001, Lewis went on to host her own talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show, which lasted one season. She later appeared as a host on The Insider and hosted several other TV shows, including Celebrity Mole: Yucatán and America’s Top Dog. Lewis is survived by her son, Langston.
As People.com reports, Lewis reflected on her life and mortality in an essay she published in Essence in January, saying, "We’re not meant to stay here forever. We come to this life, have experiences — and then we go. Being real about that with yourself changes how you choose to live. I don’t want to spend one more minute than I have to suffering unnecessarily. That, for me, is not the quality of life I’m interested in. When it’s time for me to go, I want to be able to look back on my life and say, ‘I did that exactly how I wanted to.’"
