Busta Rhymes Honors Ananda Lewis at VMAs

The MTV Video Music Awards are usually a night of celebrating music’s biggest stars, but this year, Busta Rhymes used his moment to shine a light on someone who deserved more recognition. While accepting the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award, the legendary rapper took a heartfelt detour to honor the late MTV VJ, Ananda Lewis.

A Powerful Tribute Amidst Snub

Busta Rhymes, who received his first-ever VMA, made sure to acknowledge Lewis, who sadly passed away from breast cancer in June at the age of 52. “I want to thank — and I think we all need to acknowledge — the incredible woman that loved us very much when we came to MTV during the ’90s,” Busta shared during his acceptance speech. “An incredible woman that loved me and she loved us. She loved the culture; she lifted us up.”

He continued, expressing his deep affection and loss: “I love her very much. I miss her very much. The late, great, incredible royal empress Ananda Lewis. I want to big up her mother, her father, her sister Lakshmi.” This touching tribute came as a surprise and a comfort to many fans who felt MTV had overlooked Lewis’s significant contributions.

Fans Question MTV’s Silence

Lewis, who hosted shows like “Total Request Live” and “Hot Zone” after joining MTV in 1997, was a significant presence during the channel’s heyday. She later went on to host her own show, “The Ananda Lewis Show.” Her battle with cancer, which she revealed in 2020 and later shared had become stage IV, touched many.

While Busta Rhymes’s tribute was widely appreciated, it also highlighted a perceived snub by the VMAs themselves. Many viewers took to social media to express their disappointment that the awards ceremony didn’t include a formal tribute to Lewis, a TV legend who played a key role in shaping MTV’s cultural impact during the ’90s and early 2000s.

• Busta Rhymes received the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award.
• He honored the late MTV VJ Ananda Lewis during his acceptance speech.
• Lewis hosted “Total Request Live” and “Hot Zone” on MTV.
• Fans expressed disappointment over MTV’s lack of a formal tribute to Lewis.
• Lewis passed away in June 2025 after a battle with stage IV breast cancer.

A Legacy Remembered

Busta Rhymes’s powerful words served as a reminder of Ananda Lewis’s impact on music television and the culture at large. Her warmth and dedication to the artists and the culture were clearly felt, even years after her time at MTV. It’s a testament to her legacy that her memory continues to inspire and be honored by those she influenced.