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USA Today
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
CNN reporter holds back tears recalling final moments before death of MTV VJ Ananda Lewis
CNN reporter holds back tears recalling final moments before death of MTV VJ Ananda Lewis Show Caption Hide Caption Beyoncé's mom, Tina Knowles, reveals she had breast cancer Beyoncé's mom, Tina Knowles, has revealed that she privately battled breast cancer. She opened up about her 2024 diagnosis. unbranded - Entertainment A pair of CNN stars are remembering MTV video jockey Ananda Lewis, who died earlier this week from breast cancer. Holding back tears, CNN anchor Sara Sidner told viewers this is "a story I didn't want to have to tell you" before she was later joined by their mutual friend and network correspondent Stephanie Elam, who visited the former "Teen Summit" star the day before she died on June 11. Elam said she drove from an overnight shift, after covering the Los Angeles protests, to hold the hand of her "ride or die" Lewis. The next day, Elam said she planned to return to visit Lewis again. CNN anchor Sara Sidner tearfully reveals breast cancer diagnosis: 'Hard to say out loud' "After I got off the air, I looked down and had a message from her beautiful big sister who has been such a strong champion for her and has kept me abreast of everything and messaged me and told me that she passed away right before I finished that last hit," Elam said. "And, so it was too late. "One thing that I want everyone to know is that she was at peace with this decision," Elam said of Lewis. "She had come to grips with it." The Los Angeles-based reporter for CNN said her friend's condition changed quicker than expected, explaining that "we thought we had weeks, and it turned out that it turned into days and then it was actually just a matter of hours." Elam said she and Lewis met before their freshman year at Howard University, a premier historically Black university in Washington, D.C. Lewis was one of the first big video jockeys on MTV. She was a groundbreaking face on the network after she first started her career by hosting "Teen Summit" on BET after graduating from Howard. In 1997, she joined MTV where she hosted "Total Request Live" and "Hot Zone." After leaving MTV in 2001, she hosted her own short-lived syndicated talk show, "The Ananda Lewis Show." Sara Sidner revealed her own stage 3 cancer diagnosis live on CNN Last year, Sidner revealed that she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, telling viewers on-air on CNN she was in her second month of chemotherapy treatments and would receive radiation and a double mastectomy. "I have never been sick a day of my life," Sidner told viewers. "I don't smoke. I rarely drink. Breast cancer does not run in my family. And yet here I am, with stage 3 breast cancer. It is hard to say out loud." In October, Sidner and Lewis sat down with Elam to talk about their respective cancer journeys where the latter took a more holistic route. During the talk, Lewis discussed her outlook on the diagnosis, which she decided to treat more naturally. "The cancer diagnosis caused me to change things in my life I never would have changed otherwise, that I needed to change but would not change," she said on CNN. "And those changes have allowed me access to more of my joy, more of the time."
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Ananda Lewis Broke Barriers As An MTV VJ. Her Life, Cut Short At 52, Should Be Celebrated
Ananda Lewis during 2005 MTV Movie Awards - Arrivals at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, ... More California, United States. (Photo by Jason Squires/WireImage) I, like millions of others who grew up in the 1990s, wanted my MTV. Sure, we were there for the videos. But the video jockeys, known as VJs, elevated the experience with the style and spice you could see, and not just hear, like radio DJs. Ananda Lewis was my favorite MTV VJ. She was more than a trailblazing television host. In many ways, she was an advocate for issues of the day as well as a 'TV friend' during my most formative years. Tragically, at the age of 52, she lost her battle with breast cancer on June 11, 2025. While breast cancer deaths are on the decline, the CDC estimates 42,000+ women and 500+ men are expected to succumb to the disease this year alone. With Ananda's passing, her legacy of charisma, intelligence and commitment to social issues should be remembered and reflected on. At a time before social media was commonplace—when only a few voices earned a platform to speak for a generation—she connected with music fans around the world, to both amplify artists' voices and spotlight critical social topics, through specials like True Life: I Am Driving While Black—all with an understanding of the power of media to drive change across the U.S. There are many reasons that her life deserves to be celebrated. Ananda Lewis joined the MTV Network in 1997. Known simply by her first name, which means 'bliss' in Sanskrit, America got a taste of her style, voice and vibes, and she quickly became a standout host on the uber-popular Total Request Live (TRL), MTV Live, Hot Zone and MTV Jams. In the prime of the network's cultural heyday, Ananda was able to connect with audiences while introducing the latest music videos, and conducting interviews with a seemingly never-ending list of celebrities. Her storytelling brought authenticity and depth to MTV's programming. Way before diversity was a department or a buzzword, she brought a unique multicultural look, original name and flawless style to an American youth seeking visual inspiration. In 2000, she was featured in People magazine's list of the world's '50 Most Beautiful People.' In 2001, she launched the Ananda Lewis Show, albeit with unfortunate timing, on the day before the 9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A few years later, she followed up that eponymous show as the chief correspondent for an Entertainment Tonight spin-off, The Insider. SANTA MONICA, CA - AUGUST 6: Singers Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez of NSYNC and ... More MTV VJ Ananda Lewis attend the Second Annual Teen Choice Awards on August 6, 2000 at the Barker Hangar, Santa Monica Air Center in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) Ananda was born in Los Angeles, California, and attended the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts before heading to the nation's capital to matriculate at Howard University. As an activist with the Youth Leadership and Development Institute, she worked with teenagers across customized learning programs designed to support at-risk youth. It was that passion which led her to audition for BET's Teen Summit, a groundbreaking series focused on social issues affecting young Black Americans. As the host of Teen Summit, Lewis got the opportunity to interview a wide range of special guests, from NBA legend Kobe Bryant to First Lady Hillary Clinton, hitting new angles of journalism that directly addressed and resonated with young viewers. Dave Chappelle and Ananda Lewis at the Los Angeles DVD Block Party to celebrate the June 13 release ... More of "Dave Chappelle's Block Party." Comedy superstar Dave Chappelle attended the Los Angeles DVD Block Party at the Best Buy in Culver City, California to celebrate the June 13 release of "Dave Chappelle's Block Party. Chappelle posed for pictures and signed autographs with the unsuspecting shoppers. An uncensored and unrated full-length movie about throwing the ultimate block party, "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" arrives on DVD June 13 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc for Universal Home Video) In 2020, Lewis first revealed she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, sharing the news in an Instagram video with the hope to encourage women to get a mammograms. Eventually, her cancer, progressed to stage 4, yet she reflected resilience and grace as she faced her illness, and her optimism shined through as she found moments of joy in the midst of adversity. As a Black female voice in media, Ananda Lewis's impact broke many invisible barriers. She challenged stereotypes and in many subtle ways paved the way for the generation that followed. With the outpouring of fans' reactions to the news of her passing, her life serves as a reminder of the importance early detection and self-care, but also the fragility of life. She is survived by her son, Langston, born in 2011. As we remember Ananda Lewis, let's honor her by continuing the work she championed—advocating for equity, amplifying underrepresented voices, and prioritizing pushing the envelope.
Fox News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis dead at 52 after breast cancer battle
Ananda Lewis, the former MTV VJ and talk show host, has died after a six-year battle with breast cancer. She was 52. The Associated Press reported Lewis' death, citing her sister's Facebook announcement shared June 11. "She's free, and in His heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul," Ananda's sister, Lakshmi Emory, wrote. Lewis' career began as a host on BET's "Teen Summit." She interviewed big names like Kobe Bryant, Tupac Shakur and the first lady at the time, Hillary Clinton, which later earned her an NAACP Image Award, according to The Associated Press. In 1997, Lewis shot to fame after she was hired as one of MTV's VJs, hosting "Hot Zone" and "Total Request Live." Lewis left MTV in 2001 and became the host of her own talk show, "The Ananda Lewis Show," which aired for one season. "She's free, and in His heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul." Lewis told the AP in 2001 she faced backlash after leaving BET for MTV. "I wouldn't say in a strong way because I think most people who were in my fan base at 'Teen Summit' understand that growth is necessary. One of the main things we dealt with on a consistent basis, like the underlying theme of all the shows, is you've got to get out there and live your life," she said. "The bottom line is this is about you. So, how do you want to grow and whom do you want to develop into? My justification is that I say to kids, 'Be your best and take advantage of every opportunity.' So, I couldn't sit in a place of not taking advantage of an opportunity," she told the outlet at the time. In 2020, Lewis took to Instagram to share that she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. It advanced to Stage 4 last year. "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. Share this with a woman you love. These 6 minutes could help save her life. I love you guys," Lewis captioned her video at the time. In her video, she noted that she was not getting routine mammograms due to her fear of radiation. Lewis later said doctors recommended a double mastectomy, but she opted for alternative methods. She eventually realized that was the wrong measure, becoming an advocate for being up to date with mammogram checkups. Lewis penned an essay for Essence in January and emphasized that "prevention is the real cure" when it comes to breast cancer. "We're not meant to stay here forever. We come to this life, have experiences — and then we go. "Being real about that with yourself changes how you choose to live. I don't want to spend one more minute than I have to suffering unnecessarily. That, for me, is not the quality of life I'm interested in. When it's time for me to go, I want to be able to look back on my life and say, 'I did that exactly how I wanted to,'" Lewis wrote. After walking away from her talk show, Lewis made appearances as a host on "The Insider," TLC's "While You Were Out," and A&E's "America's Top Dog."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ananda Lewis, Former MTV VJ and Talk Show Host, Dies at 52
Ananda Lewis has died at the age of 52. The former MTV VJ's sister Lakshmi announced news of her death in a Facebook post shared on Wednesday, June 11. "She's free, and in His heavenly arms," she wrote, alongside a series of broken heart emojis and a black and white portrait of Lewis. "Lord, rest her soul 🙏🏽" Lewis became well known in 1997 when she was hired to be one of MTV's VJs, hosting shows like Total Request Live and Hot Zone. In 1999, The New York Times dubbed her 'the hip-hop generation's reigning It Girl.' She left MTV in 2001 to host her own talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show. Lewis revealed in a 2020 Instagram post that she had been diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. She said that she had not been getting regular mammograms because of her fear of radiation. In October 2024, Lewis took part in a roundtable discussion with CNN's Stephanie Elam (her friend from college) and CNN anchor Sara Sidner in which she revealed that she went against medical advice and did not have a double mastectomy after she was diagnosed. Her tumor had metastasized, and her cancer had progressed to stage IV, she shared. '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.' Lewis was born in Los Angeles in 1973. Her parents divorced when she was 2, and she and her sister, Lakshmi, moved with her mother to live with their grandmother in San Diego. In 1999, Lewis opened up to Teen People about her difficult relationship with her mother as a child and teenager. 'Mom was overwhelmed from the get-go, devastated by the divorce and working hard to support two kids,' she said. But Lewis felt neglected and 'built up a lot of resentment toward her.' 'By the time I was 10, I'd become a belligerent, rebellious kid, and my mother and I were fighting about everything,' she explained. She attended an arts high school and spent her time in school plays and volunteering. After graduating from Howard University in 1995, she landed a job as the host of BET's Teen Summit, which filmed in D.C. In one episode, she interviewed 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. Months earlier, in December 1996, she had reconciled with her mother after a period of estrangement. 'I decided to close the chapter on being hateful and resentful toward my mom and open a new one that focused on love, forgiveness and appreciation for her,' she explained. Lewis became one of MTV's most popular hosts. ''In the past, our talent was sometimes just pretty people who could read cue cards,'' Bob Kusbit, then MTV's senior vice president for production told The New York Times in 1999 about her talents. ''But 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.'' Lewis interviewed celebrities including Destiny's Child, Brandy, NSYNC, Britney Spears and many more. She also ended up covering heavier topics for the network, including violence in schools and the 2001 death of Aaliyah, who was her close friend. In 2000, PEOPLE named Lewis one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. She also made frequent appearances at celebrity events. Even Prince was a vocal fan; he told The New York Times, 'Ananda is Cleopatra. You know she's a queen.' Lewis left her MTV role in 2001 and began hosting her eponymous talk show. "I wanted a change," she told Teen People at the time. "It was a matter of proving to myself that I can do [this]." The series — which premiered Sept. 10, 2001 — lasted one season. Reflecting on the series to Shondaland, Lewis said, 'I wish I had stopped the people that wanted me to do the [talk] show and said, 'Not yet, it's a little too early to do this.' It was overkill for me.' She said she wasn't happy with the show, explaining, 'It wasn't what I felt like I signed up for.' Lewis took a break from television and later appeared as a host on The Insider, a spin-off of Entertainment Tonight. She also appeared on the reality series Celebrity Mole: Yucatán and hosted A&E's America's Top Dog and TLC's While You Were Out. Lewis also became a contractor and carpenter. MTV News shut down in 2023. Lewis reflected in a statement to PEOPLE at the time, "A pillar of creative and diverse speech is crumbling. MTV News covered things no one else could. We could get inside the trailer with DMX and Korn as they were taking historic concert stages. Artists trusted MTV News to tell their stories." She added: "Even though I was technically a VJ, I did many specials with MTV News and know firsthand what a huge loss this is for the culture of music and all who love it." In 2011, Lewis welcomed son Langston with Harry Smith, brother of Will Smith. Lewis is survived by her son. Read the original article on People
Refinery29
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
Ananda Lewis Made Room For Us To Be Seen & Built A Legacy We Stand On
Lewis, known for her role as a host on Total Request Live, The Ananda Lewis Show and BET 's Teen Summit, had a voice that was as special as it was resonant. There were two definitive points in my life when I remember Lewis having a huge impact on how I navigate this world. The first was as a little Black girl, watching her break down pop culture moments, discuss serious societal issues and interview some of my favorite celebrities. It was mesmerizing. Seeing her report, inform and entertain opened doors for so many coming up behind her. Of course, we had icons like Oprah Winfrey and the late Gwen Ifill making strides onscreen at the same time, but Lewis felt more accessible and relatable to millennials. She commanded the camera naturally, infusing her own lived experiences into the questions she asked. Lewis connected with both her interviewees and her audience. In a male-dominated industry in the '90s and early 2000s, she challenged social norms and empowered women. ' And though I didn't yet know I'd be walking in her footsteps—or even that what she was doing was journalism at that time—I looked up to her early on. ' It was clear to me why she was a fixture on my screen: She made journalism cool. And though I didn't yet know I'd be walking in her footsteps—or even that what she was doing was journalism at that time—I looked up to her early on. Her legacy was part of the reason I chose to attend Howard University (HU), where she, too, was an alum. In 1999, Bob Kusbit, MTV senior vice president for production at the time, told The New York Times, "In the past our talent was sometimes just pretty people who could read cue cards. But when we brought Ananda to MTV, we decided we were going to do a lot more live television." The second moment I vividly remember Lewis impacting me came in October 2020, when she shared her breast cancer diagnosis through an Instagram video. In the midst of a pandemic, when the value of public health became more urgent and evident than it ever felt like before, this woman I had grown up admiring revealed she had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. 'I am sharing this with you because it's the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I have been fighting to get cancer out of my body for two years,' she said in her post. 'For a really long time, I have refused mammograms and that was a mistake.' From that point on, she made it her mission to educate and inform women about the importance of early detection through self-exams and mammograms. She shared Instagram posts and spoke openly with the press to raise awareness about regular screenings for early detection. 'I need you to get your mammograms,' she emotionally declared. Lewis also shared the holistic lifestyle changes she implemented after her diagnosis. ' We're worse off without her physical presence, but better off because of how she chose to live her life. Her light and her legacy lives on. ' By the time her cancer advanced to stage 4, she was no longer able to get the double mastectomy she needed. Under COVID-19 guidelines, it was deemed a 'non-emergency.' She told The Epoch Times that the disease had spread to her spine, hips and liver. Even then, she didn't let her condition dim her light. She used her platform to spread life-saving information for other women without letting cancer define her. Lewis died Wednesday at age 52, her sister Lakshmi Emory confirmed in a Facebook post. Without a doubt, Lewis' vulnerability and commitment to the truth made her such an impactful figure. If you look around at the current media landscape of Black women—names like Ivie Ani, Sylvia Obell, Taylor Crumpton, Danielle Young, Sidney Madden, myself and so many others— we all stand on her shoulders in some respect. The double whammy of losing Lewis and former MuchMusic VJ Juliette Powell in the same week is heavy. In a 2024 interview with CNN, Lewis spoke candidly about how her diagnosis altered her life. 'The cancer diagnosis caused me to change things in my life I never would have changed otherwise, that I needed to change but would not change,' she said. 'And those changes have allowed me access to more of my joy, more of the time.' Lewis fought gracefully and with determination. We're worse off without her physical presence, but better off because of how she chose to live her life. Her light and her legacy lives on.
