Former MuchMusic VJ and Toronto media personality dies at 54
Published June 10, 2025 at 4:04 pm
A former MuchMusic VJ, reporter and media expert has died after a brief illness, leaving friends and loved ones reeling from the shock.
Yesterday, another former MuchMusic personality, Ed the Sock, took to social media to announce that he’d just learned that Juliette Powell, a New York-born media personality and expert, died of bacterial meningitis on June 3.
She was 54.
For those who watched #Muchmusic, #JuliettePowell was a mainstay of the channel. I just found out that Juliette died on June 3 of acute meningitis. I am reeling from this. Not only was she smart & talented but one of the kindest ppl I worked alongside. https://t.co/qvz5Rm5D69
— Ed the Sock (@EdtheSock) June 10, 2025
According to Powell’s obituary, she was a media expert, tech ethicist, business advisor, author, and speaker known for her work at the intersection of technology, ethics, and society. While she has spent the last few years writing and teaching, many Canadians know her best as the former host of two popular MuchMusic programs: French Kiss and Electric Circus.
Born in New York City in 1970, Powell moved to Montreal with her mother when she was eight and eventually went on to compete in several beauty pageants, eventually becoming the first Black woman to win the Miss Canada Pageant in 1989. That year, she also represented Canada in the Miss Universe Pageant.
In 1992, after studying at Vanier College in Quebec, Powell joined MusiquePlus as a VJ, hosting the dance music show Bouge de là! In 1996, while studying economics at the University of Toronto, she joined MuchMusic and went on to host Electric Circus and French Kiss.
In 1999, Powell became a business reporter for CablePulse24 and also founded Powell International Entertainment Inc., where she produced segments with public figures such as Nelson Mandela, Richard Branson, Steven Spielberg and others.
In 2001, Powell co-authored the media section of the UN Plan of Action at the World Conference against Racism and in 2009, she published 33 Million People in the Room, a social networking business guide that has been translated into multiple languages.
In 2006, she earned a BA in sociology from Columbia University, and in 2021, she joined the faculty of NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, teaching media, technology, and ethics. In 2023, she co-authored The AI Dilemma: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology and in 2024, she founded AI strategy firm Kleiner Powell International.
“Juliette Powell’s multifaceted career had a consistent focus on promoting responsible innovation and challenging systemic biases. Her work continues to influence discussions on the ethical implications of emerging technologies,” her obituary reads.
“Juliette loved her career. But the place where she had the most impact was with her friends. Juliette had a magical way of drawing people in with her infectious enthusiasm, and her brilliant intelligence and gorgeous smile lit up every room she ever entered. Her loss is devastating and she will be deeply, painfully missed by so many.”
Her obituary says she is survived by heartbroken friends, colleagues, and collaborators, as well as her beloved dog, Tyra Banks.