Millie Bobby Brown is reacting to the unexpected death of her co-star, Kaylee Hottle. The two starred in the 2021 blockbuster movie "Godzilla vs Kong," with Brown sharing a tribute on her social media.
© WireImageMillie Bobby Brown shared a black-and-white photo of Hottle as a young girl on her Instagram stories. “I’m so devastated to hear this,” she wrote. “You will be deeply missed Kaylee.” The photo shows Hottle as a young girl, on the set of their movie, holding up what appears to be a King Kong doll.
Hottle was a deaf actress, and she played Jia, a deaf child who communicated with King Kong through sign language. She starred in movies like "Godzilla vs Kong" and in the sequel, "Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire."
The news of her death was shared by Hottle's father, who revealed she died in a car crash. She was only 18 years old.
© @milliebobbybrownHe shared the news in a lengthy video shared on social media, explaining what had happened through sign language. He revealed that Hottle was involved in a serious car crash, where she was one of the vehicle's passengers. He reiterated her love for the deaf community and how it was one of her life's missions to bring attention to the community and the issues they face.
Hottle comes from a Deaf family and began her acting career when she was 9 years old. Through her press runs, she talked about the importance of having Deaf representation onscreen. “I’d like to see more deaf, young actresses get motivated when they see me on screen, and hopefully they’ll have a chance in Hollywood as well,” she said in an interview with The Houston Chronicle.
© Getty ImagesCelebrities share tributes
Following the announcement of her death, various celebrities have shared tributes. Marlee Matlin, an Oscar-winning actress who's also an advocate and a part of the Deaf community, shared a sweet message on social media.
“I am absolutely gutted about the passing of sweet Kaylee Hottle. May her beauty and talent be a memory for eternity,” she wrote on Instagram. “Such a privilege to have met Kaylee last year. Please be kind to one another. Take the time to listen to your child."
© FilmMagic
