'Devastated' Millie Bobby Brown leads Kaylee Hottle tributes - BBC

What the report says

BBC Newsbeat reported that Kaylee Hottle, the deaf American actress known for playing Jia in the Godzilla and Kong films, has died at age 18 after a car crash in Frederick, Maryland. The report said she was a passenger in a single-vehicle collision in Ijamsville early Tuesday, with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office saying deputies were called at about 2:50 a.m. local time. Police said excessive speed was believed to have contributed.

Hottle appeared with Millie Bobby Brown in 2021’s Godzilla vs Kong and returned for the 2024 sequel, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Brown posted a tribute on Instagram saying she was devastated by the news, while co-stars Rebecca Hall and Eiza González also shared messages of grief. Legendary Pictures, the studio behind the films, remembered Hottle as an important member of the Monsterverse productions and praised the warmth and talent she brought to her role.

BBC also cited tributes from Oscar-winning deaf actress Marlee Matlin and deaf advocacy groups. Teri Devine of the UK’s Royal National Institute for Deaf People said Hottle helped advance representation for deaf actors and challenged misconceptions. The National Deaf Children’s Society said her screen presence gave deaf young people a visible role model.

According to the BBC report, Hottle’s parents shared video statements in American Sign Language confirming and mourning her death. Authorities said the 19-year-old driver was taken to hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening, while another passenger declined treatment at the scene.