{"id":160,"date":"2026-07-21T17:41:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T17:41:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/?p=160"},"modified":"2026-07-21T17:41:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T17:41:44","slug":"kaylee-hottle-who-played-jia-in-godzilla-vs-kong-and-godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-dies-aged-18-read-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/?p=160","title":{"rendered":"Kaylee Hottle, Who Played Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, Dies Aged 18&#8230;. Read more"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"jsx-3209398698 page-header page-content\" data-cy=\"page-header\">\n<h2 class=\"title3 jsx-12333944 jsx-37621054\" data-cy=\"article-sub-headline\">Father confirms death in tearful livestream.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-264942055 page-content\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2813394464 article-header-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-1809694635 jsx-2338608387 expand\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1740px) 1312px, (min-width: 1536px) 996px, (min-width: 1366px) 938px, (min-width: 1280px) 952px, (min-width: 1024px) 856px, (min-width: 800px) 656px, (min-width: 432px) 384px, (min-width: 412px) 364px, (min-width: 393px) 345px, (min-width: 390px) 342px, (min-width: 384px) 336px, (min-width: 375px) 327px, (min-width: 360px) 312px, 272px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=272&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 272w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=312&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 312w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=327&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 327w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=336&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 336w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=342&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 342w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=345&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 345w, 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https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=672&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 672w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=684&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 684w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=690&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 690w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=728&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 728w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=768&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 768w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=856&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 856w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=938&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 938w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=952&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 952w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=996&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 996w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=1312&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 1312w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=1712&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 1712w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=1876&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 1876w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=1904&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 1904w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=1992&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 1992w, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/07\/21\/gettyimages-2113554368-1784647878722.jpg?width=2624&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 2624w\" alt=\"Kaylee Hottle, Who Played Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, Dies Aged 18 - IGN Image\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\" \/><\/div>\n<section class=\"jsx-2162140478 byline\">\n<section class=\"jsx-1825775112 author-avatars avatars-1\" data-cy=\"author-avatars\"><\/section>\n<div class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\" data-cy=\"caption\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 byline-date\" data-cy=\"caption\">Updated:\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-07-21T15:59:50Z\">Jul 21, 2026 10:59pm GMT+7<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-428691023\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-3709034244\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-2870106660 page-content\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2870106660 side-by-side\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2870106660 article-content page-0\" data-cy=\"article-content\">\n<section class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-862658659 news\" data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" data-cy=\"paragraph\">Godzilla vs. Kong actress Kaylee Hottle has died aged 18.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" data-cy=\"paragraph\">The deaf actress, who played Jia 2021\u2019s Godzilla vs. Kong and 2024 sequel, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, was killed in a car accident on Tuesday morning in in Frederick, Maryland,\u00a0TMZ\u00a0reported. Her father, Joshua Hottle, announced the news in a livestream on\u00a0Facebook\u00a0via American Sign Language, while traveling to Texas to claim her body.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" data-cy=\"paragraph\">Hottle, from Atlanta, Georgia, comes from a multi-generational deaf family. Texas School for the Deaf, which Hottle attended, shared the news in a post on\u00a0Instagram.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Godzilla vs. Kong Who&#8217;s Who: The (Human) Cast and Characters<\/h3>\n<div class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\" data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\"><button class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\" type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/03\/31\/godzillakong-blogroll-1616719594524-1617221205931.jpeg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=511&amp;height=287&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/03\/31\/godzillakong-blogroll-1616719594524-1617221205931.jpeg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=511&amp;height=287&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 1x, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/03\/31\/godzillakong-blogroll-1616719594524-1617221205931.jpeg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=511&amp;height=287&amp;dpr=2&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 2x\" alt=\"Click through the slideshow to see the new and returning (human) cast of Godzilla vs. Kong...\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\" \/><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\" data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\"><button class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\" type=\"button\" data-cy=\"gallery-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\"><\/button><button class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\" type=\"button\" data-cy=\"gallery-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-10-58-31-am-1612459237608.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-10-58-31-am-1612459237608.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 1x, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-10-58-31-am-1612459237608.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;dpr=2&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 2x\" alt=\"Alexander Skarsg\u00e5rd (True Blood, The Stand) plays Nathan Lind.&lt;p&gt;\n\nLind is a geologist who works closely with Kong. Skarsg\u00e5rd has described Lind as a reluctant hero who is &quot;not an alpha bad-ass&quot; and is thrown into a very dangerous situation he is not equipped to handle.\n\n\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\" \/><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\" data-cy=\"element-caption\">View 12 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\" type=\"button\" data-cy=\"gallery-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-10-59-19-am-1612459237608.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-10-59-19-am-1612459237608.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 1x, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-10-59-19-am-1612459237608.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;dpr=2&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 2x\" alt=\"Eiza Gonz\u00e1lez (Baby Driver, Hobbs &amp; Shaw) plays Maya Simmons.&lt;p&gt;\n\nMaya, as described by Gonz\u00e1lez, is a &quot;very smart woman behind a company.&quot; From the trailer it seems as though her company orchestrated the capturing and transporting of Kong. And while some fans thought the company was Monarch, it in fact is Apex Cybernetics.\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\" \/><\/button><button class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\" type=\"button\" data-cy=\"gallery-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-11-00-23-am-1612459237607.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-11-00-23-am-1612459237607.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 1x, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-11-00-23-am-1612459237607.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;dpr=2&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 2x\" alt=\"Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things, Enola Holmes) reprises her Godzilla: King of the Monsters role of Madison Russell, daughter of Dr. Mark Russell.&lt;p&gt;\n\nJulian Dennison (Deadpool 2) plays Josh Valentine, Madison's friend.&lt;p&gt;\n\nTogether, Madison and Josh are trying to find out who the real evil monster is in the movie, possibly the one causing Godzilla to attack.\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\" \/><\/button><button class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\" type=\"button\" data-cy=\"gallery-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-11-00-11-am-1612459237608.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-11-00-11-am-1612459237608.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 1x, https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2021\/02\/04\/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-11-00-11-am-1612459237608.jpg?crop=16%3A9&amp;width=221&amp;height=132&amp;dpr=2&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80 2x\" alt=\"Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta, Widows) plays Bernie Hayes.&lt;p&gt;\n\nBernie, a former Apex Cybernetics employee, helps Madison and Josh find out answers about why Godzilla is attacking people all of a sudden.\n\n\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\" \/><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" data-cy=\"paragraph\">&#8220;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 in Frederick, Maryland,&#8221; reads the statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" data-cy=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Our hearts are with Kaylee&#8217;s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" data-cy=\"paragraph\">&#8220;At this time, we have very limited information and ask that everyone respect the privacy of Kaylee&#8217;s family and refrain from sharing or speculating about the circumstances surrounding the accident.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" data-cy=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We recognize this loss will have a significant impact on our TSD community. Counseling and support services are available for students and staff who may need them, with additional support being provided for Kaylee&#8217;s classmates and friends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" data-cy=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Please keep Kaylee&#8217;s loved ones in your thoughts as we mourn this tremendous loss together.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" data-cy=\"paragraph\">Hottle had appeared in a number of commercials aimed at supporting deaf children before she landed a role in the MonsterVerse. She played Jia, one of the last remaining members of the Iwi tribe of Hollow Earth and Skull Island who was adopted by Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) and forms a kinship bond with Kong. The character is deaf and communicates with the giant gorilla via ASL. She reprised the role in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" data-cy=\"paragraph\">In 2024, Hottle credited the video relay service app Convo with helping launch her film career. She told\u00a0Chron\u00a0she used it to communicate with fellow cast and crew members and even appeared in a 2017 ad for the company.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" data-cy=\"paragraph\">\u201cI had a connection with Convo. They asked me to be in a commercial one day, and so I did that commercial,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd then the assistant director of [Kong: Skull Island] saw me and they thought I matched the character description of Jia.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Father confirms death in tearful livestream. Updated:\u00a0Jul 21, 2026 10:59pm GMT+7 Godzilla vs. Kong actress Kaylee Hottle has died aged 18. The deaf actress, who played Jia 2021\u2019s Godzilla vs. &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":161,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=160"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":162,"href":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160\/revisions\/162"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toptrendingnews.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}