The entertainment world is currently grieving a heartbreaking loss today. Kaylee Hottle, the talented 18-year-old actress who captured hearts worldwide as Jia in the hit film Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, has tragically passed away following a severe car crash in Frederick, Maryland.
Her father, Joshua Hottle, broke the devastating news to fans in an emotional 23-minute Facebook Livestream delivered through American Sign Language as he prepared to travel to identify her body, TMZ reports.
Officials notified him that Kaylee was critically injured in the early morning collision, and despite emergency responders’ best efforts, her heart stopped on the way to the hospital. In a deeply painful caption accompanying his stream, her father wrote, “I am taking a flight that I never would like to take.”
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Born in Atlanta, Georgia, to a multi-generational deaf family, Kaylee’s star potential was obvious from a young age. She got her start doing commercials at just nine years old, notably starring in a public service announcement for the video messaging app Glide, which quickly became popular across the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
But it was her breakout performance in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong that made her a global fan favorite, portraying a young girl who formed an unforgettable emotional bond with King Kong through sign language. She reprised her role in the 2024 sequel, cementing her spot as a rising young power in Hollywood and a vital icon for representation.
The tragic news hit close to home at the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, where Kaylee was currently a senior preparing to step into her next chapter. The school released a heartfelt statement mourning the loss of their student, sharing, “It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident… Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.”
Hollywood Unlocked sends our deepest condolences to the Hottle family during this difficult time.