Ananda Lewis, the beloved former MTV video jockey and television host who became a cultural icon during the network’s golden era, died Wednesday morning at her Los Angeles home after a six-year battle with breast cancer. She was 52.
Lewis’s sister, Lakshmi Emory, announced the death in a Facebook post, writing that Lewis was “free, and in His heavenly arms.” Emory told media outlets that Lewis died at 11:35 AM on June 11, 2025, from Stage 4 breast cancer while in hospice care.
Born March 21, 1973, in Los Angeles, Lewis grew up in San Diego after her parents divorced when she was 2. She and her sister moved with their mother to live with their grandmother. Lewis attended an arts high school and later graduated from Howard University in 1995.
Lewis began her entertainment career as host of BET’s “Teen Summit” in 1993, a talk show addressing issues facing Black teenagers. The program featured live performances and significant interviews, including one with then-First Lady Hillary Clinton. This role caught the attention of MTV executives, who hired her as a video jockey in August 1997.
At MTV, Lewis quickly became one of the network’s most popular hosts, leading shows including “Total Request Live,” “Hot Zone,” and “MTV Live.” The New York Times dubbed her “the hip-hop generation’s reigning It Girl” in 1999. She interviewed major celebrities including Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears, NSYNC, and Brandy. Lewis also covered serious topics for the network, including school violence and the 2001 death of her close friend, R&B star Aaliyah.
Bob Kusbit, then MTV’s senior vice president for production, noted that Lewis represented a shift in the network’s talent strategy. He indicated that while previous hosts were sometimes just attractive people who could read cue cards, Lewis was hired specifically for her ability to handle live television programming.
Lewis left MTV in 2001 to host “The Ananda Lewis Show,” her own syndicated daytime talk show that premiered September 10, 2001. The series lasted one season and produced over 250 episodes. She later reflected that the timing was premature, acknowledging she should have waited before taking on the project.
Following her talk show, Lewis worked as a correspondent for “The Insider” from 2004 to 2017. She appeared on reality series “Celebrity Mole: Yucatán” and hosted programs including A&E’s “America’s Top Dog” and TLC’s “While You Were Out.” She also became a contractor and carpenter, showcasing her versatility beyond television.
In 2000, People magazine named Lewis one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. Even music legend Prince was a vocal admirer, telling The New York Times that Lewis was like Cleopatra, describing her as a queen.
Lewis first discovered a lump in her breast in 2019 and was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in October 2020. She revealed her diagnosis in an Instagram video, explaining that she had refused regular mammograms due to fear of radiation exposure. She urged women to prioritize mammogram screenings, acknowledging her reluctance as a mistake.
Against medical recommendations for a double mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiation, Lewis initially pursued alternative treatments. She explained that as a stay-at-home mother homeschooling her son, the recommended surgery felt overwhelming. Her approach included dietary changes, eliminating alcohol and sugar, vitamin C IVs, hyperbaric chamber sessions, and stress management techniques.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis relocated to Arizona for integrated treatment combining holistic and conventional approaches, including genetically targeted fractionated chemotherapy. Initially, this approach showed promise, with her cancer reportedly decreasing from Stage 3 to Stage 2, and the tumor significantly reducing.
However, financial difficulties made it challenging to maintain the costly treatment regimen. Lewis lost her insurance and went two and a half years without effective treatment. By October 2023, PET scans revealed the cancer had metastasized to her spine, hips, and lymph nodes, progressing to Stage 4.
In a January 2025 essay for Essence magazine, Lewis emphasized that prevention was the real cure for cancer. She encouraged women to educate themselves about prevention strategies and apply necessary life changes to avoid her experience. She acknowledged wishing she had known then what she learned through her cancer journey.
Lewis spoke candidly about the disproportionate impact of breast cancer on Black women, who face approximately 40% higher mortality rates despite similar diagnosis rates as white women. She attributed this disparity partly to historical mistrust of the medical system within Black communities.
Lewis welcomed her son Langston in 2011 with ex-husband Harry Smith, brother of actor Will Smith. Tragically, her 14-year-old son graduated middle school on the same day she died, creating a bittersweet milestone for the family.
In her 2024 interview with CNN correspondents, Lewis reflected on her desired legacy. She expressed hope that people would remember her as someone who loved hard, lived loudly, didn’t shy away from problems, and embraced life while being comfortable with letting it go when necessary.
Family members indicated that numerous celebrities have already reached out wanting to speak at Lewis’s memorial service about her influence on their careers and her exceptional interviewing skills. The memorial is planned for the coming weeks.
