Ananda Lewis, a former MTV host, has passed away at the age of 52, as confirmed by her sister Lakshmi.
The announcement was made through a Facebook post on June 11, where Lakshmi shared a poignant tribute to her sister.
Lakshmi stated: “She’s free, and in His heavenly arms.” Accompanied by a series of broken heart emojis, she added: “Lord, rest her soul.”
Lewis began her journey with MTV in 1997 as one of its VJs, hosting shows like Hot Zone and Total Request Live. She left in 2001 to start her own talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show.
In a 1999 interview with Teen People, Lewis revealed that she had a challenging childhood following her parents’ divorce. She and her sister moved in with their mother at their grandmother’s home.
After completing her education at an arts high school, Lewis became the host of BET’s Teen Summit, where she interviewed the then First Lady, Hillary Clinton.
“That experience got me noticed at MTV and in August of 1997, I moved to New York and started working there,” she told Teen People.
Lewis quickly became one of the most popular hosts on MTV.
The first sign of her illness emerged in a 2020 Instagram post, where she disclosed her stage III breast cancer diagnosis.
Lewis admitted that she had avoided radiation and hadn’t been undergoing regular mammogram screenings.
Unfortunately, her health deteriorated rapidly after her diagnosis, as she chose not to follow medical advice.
In a discussion with CNN’s Stephanie Elam and anchor Sara Sidner in October 2024, Lewis elaborated on her medical decisions.
She shared that she was advised to have a double mastectomy but opted for holistic treatments instead.
Tragically, her cancer progressed to stage IV as the tumor spread to other parts of her body.
“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,” Lewis said. “I decided to keep my tumor and try to work it out of my body a different way. . . . I wish I could go back. It’s important for me to admit where I went wrong with this.”
The announcement of her passing left many in shock, and heartfelt comments poured in, highlighting her influence in the media and on MTV fans.
One person commented: “I’m so sorry to see this. We were freshman together at Howard and she was always nice to me. Rest in Heaven and sending prayers of comfort and peace to you and your family.”
Another shared: “Ananda was such a gem. In disbelief. May her journey home be filled with joy and love, and may her memory be a blessing to all who knew her. Lifting you up LS Emory in prayer sis!”
Someone else wrote: “She is free. No more pain. Her days here on this earth were impactful and amazing. We will always remember her and say her name. We will hold you close my friend. We are here for you. Praying for your strength and peace.”