Ananda Lewis, the beloved former MTV VJ, talk show host, and BET icon, has died at the age of 52 after a courageous battle with Stage 4 breast cancer. The news of her passing was confirmed by her sister, Lakshmi Emory, in a heartfelt Facebook post: “She’s free and in His heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul.”
While Ananda Lewis is not biologically to Will Smith, she was connected to the Hollywood star through marriage. Lewis was married to Harry Smith, the CEO of Smith Global Media and the younger brother of actor Will Smith. The couple share a son, Langston, born in 2011.
Ananda Lewis first rose to national fame in the early 1990s as the host of BET’s Teen Summit, a show that gave voice to young Black Americans and tackled pressing social issues. Her charisma and authenticity resonated with audiences and quickly catapulted her to mainstream success.
In the mid-to-late 1990s, Lewis became one of the most recognizable faces on MTV, hosting popular shows like Total Request Live (TRL) and Hot Zone. During her time at MTV, she earned multiple NAACP Image Awards, cementing her status as a trailblazer for Black women in media.
In 2001, she launched The Ananda Lewis Show, a syndicated daytime talk show that tackled both personal and societal issues. She later worked as a correspondent for The Insider from 2004 to 2005. Her last TV appearance was on TLC’s While You Were Out in 2019.
Outside of television, Lewis also pursued a hands-on passion: carpentry. She earned a professional trade certification, showing her drive to constantly reinvent herself.
Lewis was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in 2020 but initially chose to pursue alternative treatments. In 2024, she publicly shared that the disease had progressed to Stage IV, and she remained candid about her journey in hopes of raising awareness about early detection.
Ananda Lewis is survived by her husband, Harry Smith, and their son, Langston. She leaves behind a legacy of strength, inspiration, and impact across multiple generations.
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