Millie Bobby Brown has paid tribute to her "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" co-star Kaylee Hottle, who died in a car accident. Hottle, 18, was killed when the vehicle she was traveling in veered off the road in Frederick, Maryland.
Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her death in a Facebook post on Tuesday. He stated that Kaylee's heart stopped on the way to the hospital following the accident. Brown shared her grief on Instagram Stories, writing, "I'm so devastated to hear this. You will be deeply missed Kaylee."
Kaylee Hottle, who was deaf, portrayed Jia, a young girl who communicated with King Kong through sign language in the 2021 film "Godzilla vs Kong" and its 2024 sequel. The character developed a special bond with the giant ape.
According to reports, speed was a factor in the crash, which involved a 1995 Honda Accord. Kaylee was a passenger in the vehicle. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and another passenger was treated at the scene. Emergency responders attempted to find an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter to communicate with the Hottle family, who are also deaf.
The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, also announced her passing, extending condolences to her family and friends. The school noted the significant impact of her loss on the community and made counseling services available.
During the filming of "Godzilla vs Kong," Hottle played a key role in ensuring accurate ASL representation. She worked with her parents and an interpreter to translate her spoken lines into sign language, a process that sometimes presented challenges on set due to the nuances of ASL. Hottle also taught her castmates sign language, facilitating their interactions with her.
Alexander Skarsgard, who starred alongside Hottle, praised her performance, calling her the "star of the movie" and highlighting her professionalism and expressive acting. Hottle, who hailed from an all-deaf family, also appeared in an episode of "Magnum P.I." and participated in commercials and public service announcements for organizations supporting the deaf and hard of hearing community. She was also a member of her school's track and field team.
