Television Host Ananda Lewis Dies After Cancer Battle
Television personality Ananda Lewis, known for her work on MTV and BET, has passed away following a six-year struggle with breast cancer. Her sister shared the news, eliciting tributes from fans remembering her impact on television.
A Career Defined
Lewis gained widespread recognition in the 1990s. She was a prominent figure on music channels, notably BET and MTV. She hosted the BET show Teen Summit, where she notably interviewed Hillary Clinton. Her career included hosting MTV’s MTV Live and other specials.
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The “It-Girl” Era
In 1999, The New York Times referred to Lewis as “the prevailing IT girl of the hip-hop generation.” She later launched her own talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show, in 2001, though it was short-lived.
“She is free now, and in his heavenly arms.”
—Lakshmi, Sister of Ananda Lewis
According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer is about 28% (Cancer.org).
Battling Breast Cancer
Lewis, who married Will Smith‘s brother, Harry Smith, in 2011, revealed her breast cancer diagnosis in 2020. At the time, she acknowledged a delay in detection due to her aversion to mammograms. She died in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 11th.
