Maria Menounos Opens Up About the Death of Her Mom

Maria Menounos spoke publicly about her mom’s passing due to brain cancer on a podcast episode on Thursday.

Menounos’ mother, Litsa Menounos, tragically passed after a long battle with cancer on Greek Easter, May 1.

Maria Menounos talks about her Mom

The Greek-American former E! News host used her podcast to share with listeners about her Mom’s death and how it has affected her. This is Menounos’ first time back on her own podcast since her mom’s death, as she had taken a break to grieve.

During the intimate episode, she spoke of an interaction she had after her mother’s death which helped her process her emotions.

“I remember vividly having a conversation with a grief counselor on the ride home, who was helping me with a lot of stuff. And she said to me something that was really powerful. She said ‘What do you love most about your mom?'” recounted Menounos.

“And I said well, my mom’s the most selfless woman I’ve ever met. And she said, ‘Isn’t that interesting? You didn’t say her hair, her nails, her skin… It’s not the physical body that you love, it’s the soul. And the soul is eternal, and your love is eternal. She’s always going to be with you’. And I thought that was really powerful, and it really helped me a lot,” continued Menounos.

The meaningful advice seems to have helped Menounos process enough so that she now feels ready to return to her podcast and to open up about her mom.

The podcast episode where she opens up is shown below.

A difficult year for Menounos

Both of Menounos’ parents had been diagnosed with the coronavirus in late 2020. In April she discussed her experience with dealing with her parents’ diagnoses as her mother continued to fight a brain tumor on her youtube channel.

“For those of you who don’t know, my parents have been like my kids,” Menounos said in the 19-minute video detailing their battle with the coronavirus. “I have taken full care of them the past two decades.”

The TV personality continued: “My mom was healthy until August of 2016 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer, otherwise known as glioblastoma. Coincidentally, two months after her diagnosis, I, too, was diagnosed with a brain tumor.”

When her mother passed away in early May, Menounos publicly announced her death on Instagram. Celebrity friends took to the comments section of Menounos’ post to offer their condolences to her late mother.

Zoe Saldana wrote: “We send you so much love. Our deepest condolences Maria.”

Former E! News host and reporter Catt Sadler wrote: “I know one thing for certain – your mother knew the most extraordinary love there ever was to know because of you. Your devotion to her was unparalleled. She’s with other angels now. Sending all my love.”

“Sending all my love,” commented Jamie Lynn Spears.

TV personality and retired professional wrestler, Nikki Bella, wrote: “RIP. Sending you and the fam so much love light and prayers.”