Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis has died. She was 52.
Ananda’s sister, Lakshmi Lewis, announced the news of the host’s passing via social media on Wednesday, June 11.
“She’s free, and in His heavenly arms. 
,” Lakshmi wrote via Facebook, alongside a black and white photo of Ananda. “Lord, rest her soul
.”
No additional details on Ananda’s death were shared at the time.
Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis Clarifies Decision to Refuse Mastectomy
Ananda is survived by her sister and son Langston, 14, whom she welcomed with Harry Smith, the brother of Will Smith.
Ananda was best known as a host on multiple MTV shows in the late 90s and early aughts, including Total Request Live and Hot Zone. During her time on the network, she interviewed countless music stars, including Destiny’s Child, Brandy, NSYNC, Britney Spears and more. In 2001, she parted ways with MTV to host her own talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show, which aired for one season. She also made appearances on The Insider, Celebrity Mole: Yucatán, A&E’s America’s Top Dog and TLC’s While You Were Out.
In 2020, Ananda revealed that she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. In her announcement video, the MTV personality confessed that fear of radiation prevented her from obtaining regular mammograms, which can detect breast cancer in its early stages.
“This is tough for me, but if just ONE woman decides to get her mammogram after watching this, what I’m going through will be worth it. 
PRACTICE EARLY DETECTION,” she captioned the Instagram post. “Share this with a woman you love. These 6 minutes could help save her life.”
Four years later, Ananda participated in a CNN roundtable with anchor Sara Sidner, who was also diagnosed with breast cancer. During the discussion, Ananda revealed that she opted not to have a double mastectomy after she was diagnosed with cancer. Her tumor ultimately metastasized and her condition progressed to stage 4. Ananda expressed her regret over not listening to the advice of her doctors.
Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis Reveals Her Cancer Is Now Stage 4
“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,” she 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.”
Earlier this year, Ananda wrote an essay for Essence about her experience with breast cancer and shared her advice for others who may find themselves in a similar situation.
“Do everything in your power to avoid my story becoming yours. If I had known what I know now 10 years ago, perhaps I wouldn’t have ended up here,” she penned. “I would have been cold plunging, exercising consistently, making sure my vitamin D levels were good, detoxing my body on a monthly and yearly basis, and sleeping better. I would’ve been doing all the things I’ve been forced to do now, to keep my body from creating more cancer and remove what it has already made.”
