Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis has revealed that her breast cancer has progressed to stage IV after initially choosing not to undergo traditional treatments, including a double mastectomy.

As previously reported Lewis, 51, initially shared her initial breast cancer diagnosis in a 2020 Instagram post, where she explained her decision to avoid mammograms for years due to concerns about radiation exposure.

“For a really long time, I have refused mammograms, and that was a mistake,” said Lewis at the time while remembering her mom battle cancer after having mamograms. “I watched my mom get mammograms for almost 30 years, and at the end of that, she had breast cancer, and I said, ‘Huh? Radiation exposure for years equals breast cancer. Yeah, I’m going to pass. Thanks anyway.’”

“If I had done the mammograms from the time they were recommended when I turned 40, they would’ve caught the tumor in my breast years before I caught it through my own self exam and thermography,” she continued. “And they would have caught it at a place where it was more manageable. Where the treatment of it would have been a little easier. It’s never easy, but I use that word in comparison to what I’m going through now. Instead, what I’m dealing with is stage 3 breast cancer that is in my lymphs. I need you to get your mammograms.”

Now she’s sharing a sad update about the cancer spreading in her body.

PEOPLE reports that in a recent discussion with CNN’s Stephanie Elam and anchor Sara Sidner—who was also diagnosed with stage III breast cancer earlier this year—Lewis opened up about her choice to forgo surgery after her initial diagnosis.

“I decided to keep my tumor and try to work it out of my body a different way,” said Ananda noting that she chose to remove toxins from her body. “Looking back, I go, ‘Maybe I should have [chosen a different path].’”

Lewis went on to say that she initially pursued homeopathic remedies, a new diet, a healthier lifestyle, and medication. Though she experienced some improvement, her condition worsened in 2023, when she discovered her cancer had spread.

“My lymph system really flared up,” she recounted, recalling her first encounter with the possibility of death. “I thought I had this, but I told death, ‘Not yet. When you do come, I’m gonna make it fun for you.’”

Reflecting on her decision to decline a double mastectomy, Lewis emphasized the importance of maintaining her quality of life. “I want to want to be here, so I had to do it my way,” she explained.

As for Sidner, she chose to have a double mastectomy.

It’s unclear if Ananda is undergoing radiation now.

In an Instagram comment, she noted her excitement about having the important conversation timed around Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Whew chile! The ride of die is REAL!💖🎁💃🏻🎉,” wrote the host on her best friend Stephanie Elam’s page. “It was incredible to have this conversation with you @stephelamtv and @sarasidnertv 🙏🏽💖 Hoping for the best outcomes for EVERYONE pushing through life with cancer🎀 Love you!

In 2023, Ananda was also a guest on Amanda Seales’ “Small Doses” podcast where she discussed the holistic approach she was taking to her healing.

We’re sending sincere well wishes Ananda Lewis’ way.

50 Cent is the latest legend taking their talents to Sin City for a massive Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood.

One of the best parts of visiting Las Vegas is the slate of performers you can catch while on vacation for a night of live entertainment. For several years Usher has been shutting down Vegas nightly with back-to-back residencies to start the decade. Adele also took her talents to Vegas with a highly successful residency hosted at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

According to TMZ, 50 Cent is the newest entertainer heading to Las Vegas with a residency. Appropriately titled “50 Cent: In Da Club” the residency will feature hip-hop’s favorite troll performing classics like “21 Questions” and “In Da Club”.

Planet Hollywood will host the rapper’s residency featuring six live performances. Six shows sounds light but surely it will be a massive attraction and force the hotel to order more. Suitably the residency will kick off in December with a monumental New Years Eve gathering presented by 50’s very own Sire Spirits brand.

Will you be traveling to Sin City to hear 50 perform his early 2000s classics? If so what song is a must have on the rappers residency setlist?

Al Pacino wants to be around for a long time to see his son Roman grow up–even if he doesn’t live with the little one.

The 84-year-old surprised a lot of fans when he welcomed a child last year, with many criticizing the actor for becoming a father again at such an old age. Now, his youngest son is 16 months old, and the senior loves being a dad, saying Roman is part of the reason he wanted to write an autobiography.

“You know, I have this little person. Everything he does is interesting to me,” Pacino shares. “So we talk. I play the harmonica with him and we have made this kind of contact. So it’s fun.”

The Godfather star sat down with the BBC to talk about his autobiography, Sonny Boy, where he revealed that he’s been loving being a father to his son Roman, whom he co-parents with ex Noor Alfallah. Pacino says that fatherhood has been “extraordinary,” and even though he and Alfallah are no longer together, the actor still communicates with his son.

“He does text me from time to time,” Pacino says of the toddler.

Despite saying that part of the reason he wanted to write his autobiography was for his youngest son, the star also shared that he does want to stick around for Roman’s major life moments.

“Well now I want to be around for this child. Of course I do,” Pacino says. “But things happen. I hope I am. I hope I stay healthy and he knows who his dad is.”

Pacino and Alfallah, 30, welcomed Roman in June 2023. Ahead of the baby’s birth, an insider told PEOPLE how excited the actor was to become a father again, saying “Al loves being a father and always has.”

“He is excited,” the insider added: “Being a parent is and always was an important part of Al’s life.”

A deaf Black man in Phoenix, Arizona is facing charges of assault against a police officer after he was attacked by police for failing to comply with commands he couldn’t hear.

According to AZ Central, 34-year-old Tyron McAlpin was arrested on Aug. 19 by officers Benjamin Harris and Kyle Sue, who were called to a Circle K near 12th Street and Indian School Road by employees who wanted Harris removed from the premises. Body camera footage shows that Sue and Harris spoke to an employee outside of the store who claimed McAlphin assaulted him.

“Are you alleging he assaulted you and you want him to go to jail?” Sue can be heard asking.

And that’s where it all went downhill.

From AZCentral:

On police body camera video, McAlpin can be seen walking across the Dollar Store parking lot when Sue drives up to him and says, “Hey buddy stop where you’re at.”

But McAlpin, who is deaf, according to court records, keeps walking.

Harris then pulls up next to him and, in less than a second, reaches out while saying, “have a seat.” Body camera footage shows a struggle as Sue grabs McAlpin’s arm while McAlpin pushes and swings his arms back at Harris. Harris then punches McAlpin. The footage reveals that this struggle lasts about 6 seconds before McAlpin folds over, at which point Sue grabs him, and Harris arrives to assist in bringing McAlpin to the ground.

Harris tells Sue to Tase McAlpin. The body camera video captures both officers bringing McAlpin down to the ground.

At one point in the video, Harris brings his arm around McAlpin’s face. The footage shows his closed hand moving toward McAlpin’s mouth, which is already open, and it appears to pass near his teeth.

McAlpine is charged with biting Harris.

The video footage shows Sue striking the back of McAlpin’s head while his partner continues to bark orders at McAlphin that he can’t hear. Harris shouts more forcefully at McAlpin as if the volume of his voice would make a difference, and when it doesn’t, he begins to punch McAlpin with closed fists. Harris then pulls out a taser and shoots McAlpin while he’s still being beaten by Sue.

McAlpin was charged with aggravated assault against an officer, and a probable cause hearing was held on Oct. 1, during which Harris testified that if McAlpin had indicated he was deaf, the incident could have been avoided.

Apparently, we’re all supposed to ignore the glaring fact that the incident also could have been avoided if cops weren’t so quick to resort to violence the second their commands get ignored, especially when dealing with Black citizens. If the officers weren’t so eager to start striking and tasing McAlpin because their little blue egos got bruised by a seemingly non-compliant suspect, it might have occurred to them that McAlphin failed to respond because he couldn’t hear them. I mean, deaf people and people who are hearing impaired are everywhere, and cops are a danger to them if they’re going to react violently to not being heard.

Of course, unsurprisingly, the court didn’t see it that way. Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioner Nick Saccone determined that, based on the body camera footage and the testimony of Sue and Harris, there was sufficient evidence for the felony charges against McAlpin to move forward.

It’s unclear if there is any investigation underway to determine if the officers involved in the stop used excessive force, but we probably shouldn’t hold our breath.

Disruption is key to making a mark and changing the narrative around Black creatives and the CEO of a skincare meets makeup line is up to the task. 

Over the weekend, the 2024 ESSENCE Girls United Disruptor Summit took place in Atlanta and it was nothing short of a celebration of culture and empowerment, marking its five-year anniversary with a star-studded lineup. The event brought together some of the brightest Black Gen-Z trailblazers, including celebrities like Serena Page, Amber Riley, and Lady London, who shared their personal stories about success, leadership, and staying true to themselves in the entertainment industry. 

Alongside these powerful voices, HBCU changemakers, social media influencers, and up-and-coming entrepreneurs took center stage to show how they are pushing the boundaries and shaping the future. The day concluded with an energetic performance by Laila!, reminding everyone that the future is Black, bold, and brilliant.

Alicia Scott Of Range Beauty Talks About Inclusivity

A standout moment came when BOSSIP’s Lauryn Bass had an exclusive sit-down interview with Alicia Scott, the CEO of Range Beauty, to talk about the ongoing conversation around inclusivity in the beauty industry.

With the rise of beauty influencers, such as Golloria George, calling out big brands for their lack of inclusivity, especially when it comes to darker skin tones, the discussion has become more urgent than ever.

Golloria George, a beauty influencer and advocate for colorism awareness, has been making waves on social media by testing the darkest shades offered by major beauty companies. George’s viral Instagram videos have highlighted a glaring issue: many of these shades are either not dark enough or simply don’t cater to the needs of Black women. 

In her recent statements, she openly criticized beauty brands for creating products that claim to be inclusive but fail to meet the needs of women with darker complexions. According to New York Magazine’s The Cut, George’s advocacy has sparked a larger movement, with many influencers joining her in demanding true diversity in beauty products. 

With this in mind, BOSSIP’s Lauryn Bass approached Alicia Scott, a true disruptor in the beauty industry, and asked her thoughts on the matter. Bass, a fan of Scott since her debut on Shark Tank, started the conversation by asking her about her knowledge on this matter.

BOSSIP: Are you familiar with beauty influencers recently calling out brands who aren’t being inclusive with shade ranges? With your brand, Range Beauty, do you have any comments about what you’ve seen online on social media or any other thoughts?”

Scott, known for her commitment to providing inclusive products for all skin tones, didn’t hold back in her response. She explained from her own experience, that big brands who aren’t being inclusive are just making excuses. 

Scott: “When I first started Range Beauty, I started it with $150 dollars and I created about 21 shades of brown. So whenever I see these brands come out and say that they don’t have the funds to create range, or they kind of do it as a play like ‘Oh, we’ll just go back to the lab,’ it’s like—no. If you wanted to include us from the first launch, then you would’ve if you wanted to prioritize us. And I think the biggest thing is, Black women outspend any other group when it comes to makeup and skincare. Yet, we’re constantly being underrepresented and underserved. So for me, I’m always making sure that I prioritize and give my dollars to brands that prioritize us.”

Scott’s response hit home, echoing the very same frustrations that Golloria George and other beauty influencers have been vocal about. That is what the Essence GU Summit is all about; making sure that Black Women push back and disrupt the norm. 

The underlying issue is not just about the lack of inclusivity but also about the intentional decisions brands make when they choose not to cater to women of color. For Scott, who started Range Beauty with limited resources but made inclusivity a priority from day one, the excuses from larger brands simply don’t hold up.

Lauryn Bass continued the conversation by asking Scott how she’s navigating the ever-changing beauty industry, particularly as economic challenges have affected how brands operate. Bass wanted to know what advice Scott would offer to aspiring beauty entrepreneurs trying to break into the industry in this current climate.

Scott’s advice was practical and powerful:

“My biggest advice is making sure that you’re truly honing in on building your audience and trying to create true traction. For me, a big financial source is grants and pitch competitions. Make sure you’re applying to these grants—it’s free money, especially if you’re Black and brown. They want us to have these funds to launch our brands and push them forward. So again, strong audience, strong traction, strong bookkeeping, and applying to these grants.”

Scott emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation and taking advantage of the resources available to Black entrepreneurs, particularly those that focus on helping underrepresented communities. Her words were a reminder that in an industry where Black women are often overlooked, there are ways to create opportunities for success.

As the conversation wrapped up, it was clear that Alicia Scott remains a driving force in the movement toward inclusivity in the beauty industry. Her commitment to representing Black women in all facets of her brand is a shining example of what true inclusivity looks like. In a world where beauty standards are still largely shaped by brands that fail to cater to darker skin tones, Scott and Range Beauty are leading the charge for change.

For more on the 2024 ESSENCE GU Disruptor Summit, check out our full recap HERE.