Tejal Somvanshi
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Ananda Lewis, who became a household name as an MTV host in the late 1990s, has died at 52 after fighting breast cancer for several years. Her sister Lakshmi Emory shared the news on Facebook on June 11, 2025.
“She’s free, and in His heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul,” Emory wrote alongside a photo of Lewis.
Lewis died at her Los Angeles home while in hospice care. Her passing occurred on the same day her 14-year-old son Langston celebrated his middle school graduation.
Lewis first revealed her health battle in October 2020, announcing her Stage III breast cancer diagnosis. She acknowledged that avoiding mammograms due to radiation concerns had been a mistake.
“For a really long time, I have refused mammograms, and that was a mistake,” Lewis admitted in her announcement video.
In a candid CNN discussion in October 2024, Lewis shared that her cancer had advanced to Stage IV, spreading beyond the breast. She explained how she initially chose alternative healing methods over conventional treatment, turning down the double mastectomy her doctors had recommended after diagnosis.
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Following her personal health journey, Lewis channeled her experience into advocacy work. In early 2025, she contributed to Essence magazine, stressing early detection and urging women to be vigilant about bodily changes. Her message centered on prevention being the key to fighting the disease.
The MTV network acknowledged her passing with an online tribute highlighting her influence on music fans and offering sympathies to her family. This came years after Lewis had completed her studies at Howard University in 1995, before her rise to television fame.
Lewis’s on-screen talents extended beyond her appealing presence. Bob Kusbit, former MTV senior vice president for production, told The New York Times: “When we brought Ananda to MTV, we decided we were going to do a lot more live television, and I was first and foremost interested in her ability to do live TV.”
After departing MTV in 2001, Lewis launched her self-titled talk show, which ran for a single season. Her later career included appearances on “The Insider,” “Celebrity Mole: Yucatán,” and hosting programs such as A&E’s “America’s Top Dog.”
She is survived by her son Langston, whose father is Harry Smith, brother of actor Will Smith.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ananda Lewis died from Stage IV breast cancer at age 52. She had been battling the disease for six years after initially being diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in 2019. The cancer eventually metastasized and progressed to Stage IV, meaning it had spread beyond the breast to other parts of her body.
Ananda Lewis died on June 11, 2025, at her home in Los Angeles while in hospice care. Tragically, her death occurred on the same day her 14-year-old son Langston celebrated his middle school graduation. Her sister Lakshmi Emory confirmed the news on Facebook.
Ananda Lewis was hired as an MTV VJ in 1997 and became famous for hosting several popular shows including “Total Request Live” (TRL), “Hot Zone,” and “MTV Live.” She was known for her engaging interviews with celebrities like Britney Spears, NSYNC, and Destiny’s Child during MTV’s golden era in the late 1990s.
Ananda Lewis initially chose alternative treatment methods over the double mastectomy that doctors recommended after her Stage III diagnosis. She admitted in 2024 that she regretted this decision, saying “I wish I could go back.” She tried various alternative approaches including dietary changes, high-dose vitamin C IVs, and hyperbaric chamber sessions before eventually incorporating traditional treatments.
Ananda Lewis is survived by her 14-year-old son Langston, whose father is Harry Smith (brother of Will Smith). She also leaves behind her sister Lakshmi Emory, who announced her death. Lewis was a devoted mother who homeschooled her son while battling cancer, and she often spoke about how important her role as a mother was to her treatment decisions.
After her diagnosis, Ananda Lewis became an advocate for early detection and cancer prevention. She contributed to Essence magazine in early 2025, emphasizing that “prevention is the real cure” and urging women to get regular mammograms. She openly shared her journey to encourage other women to seek early screening, admitting her own mistake of avoiding mammograms due to radiation fears.
Cancer, MTV, Death, Breast Cancer, Entertainment, Host, Television, Celebrity, News
