Ananda Lewis, a former MTV video jockey and television host, died Wednesday, June 11, at her Los Angeles home following a six-year battle with breast cancer. She was 52.
Lewis’ sister, Lakshmi Emory, announced the death in a Facebook post on June 11, writing, “She’s free, and in His heavenly arms.” Emory told media outlets that Lewis died from Stage 4 breast cancer while in hospice care.
Born March 21, 1973, in Los Angeles, Lewis began her entertainment career after graduating from Howard University in 1995. She first gained recognition as host of BET’s “Teen Summit,” where she interviewed notable figures, including then-First Lady Hillary Clinton.
Lewis rose to mainstream fame in 1997 when she was hired as one of MTV’s video jockeys, hosting popular shows including “Total Request Live” and “Hot Zone.” The New York Times dubbed her “the hip-hop generation’s reigning It Girl” in 1999, recognizing her influence beyond television as a cultural figure whose looks and attitude made her in demand at clubs and parties.
MTV executives praised Lewis’ abilities beyond traditional VJ roles. The network’s senior vice president for production noted that while past talent were sometimes just attractive people who could read cue cards, Lewis was brought in specifically for her ability to handle live television as MTV expanded its live programming.
In 2001, Lewis left MTV to host her own syndicated talk show, “The Ananda Lewis Show,” which premiered September 10, 2001. The series lasted one season, with its launch coinciding unfortunately with the September 11 attacks the following day. Lewis later reflected that she wished she had delayed the show, calling it too early in her career.
Following the talk show, Lewis worked as a correspondent for “The Insider” from 2004 to 2017 and hosted various other programs, including A&E’s “America’s Top Dog” and TLC’s “While You Were Out.” She also ventured into construction work, becoming a contractor and carpenter.
Lewis first revealed her breast cancer diagnosis in an Instagram video in October 2020, initially describing it as Stage 3 cancer. She disclosed that she had been fighting the disease for nearly two years and had previously refused regular mammograms due to fear of radiation exposure. Lewis urged women to get mammograms, sharing that she had a nine-year-old son she needed to be there for.
In October 2024, Lewis participated in a CNN roundtable discussion with correspondents Stephanie Elam and Sara Sidner, revealing that her cancer had progressed to Stage 4. She explained that doctors had recommended a double mastectomy following her initial diagnosis, but she chose to pursue alternative treatments instead.
Lewis described her initial approach as focusing on removing toxins from her body through diet changes and fractionated chemotherapy, treatments not typically recommended by medical professionals as effective. She later acknowledged regretting this decision, stating she wished she could go back and admit where she went wrong with her treatment choices.
Despite facing criticism from others for her treatment decisions, Lewis maintained that people didn’t understand her situation or know the details. She emphasized that she wouldn’t waste time battling public opinions, focusing instead on what she could control.
In an essay published in Essence magazine in January 2025, Lewis emphasized that prevention is the real cure for cancer and urged women to pay attention to their bodies. She wrote about accepting mortality and choosing to live authentically, expressing her desire to look back on life and say she did things exactly how she wanted.
Lewis’ close friend and CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam shared emotional details about Lewis’ final days, revealing that what they thought would be weeks turned into days and then hours. Elam read Lewis’ final text message on air, in which Lewis wrote about bodies being on loan and choosing to leave with love, signing off as a wonderful lifelong bestie.
Throughout her career, Lewis won an NAACP Image Award for hosting “True Life: I Am Driving While Black” and was named one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 2000. Even Prince was a vocal admirer, comparing her to Cleopatra and calling her a queen.
Lewis is survived by her 14-year-old son Langston, whom she shared with Harry Smith, brother of actor Will Smith. Her sister Lakshmi Emory described Lewis as a beacon of light who lit up the world with her intellect, passion and beauty, stating she will be missed beyond measure by those who had the privilege of knowing and loving her.
