Kaylee Hottle, the young actress best known for her role as Jia in Legendary’s MonsterVerse films, has died at 18. The actress’ death was confirmed by her father, Joshua Hottle, who shared the news in a Facebook livestream using American Sign Language. According to reports, Hottle died following a car accident in Maryland on July 21, 2026.

Hottle’s career, though brief, drew attention for her role in expanding Deaf representation in mainstream cinema. Through her portrayal of Jia, a Deaf character who communicates with King Kong through American Sign Language, she became one of the most recognisable young Deaf actors in mainstream cinema.

Photo: Instagram

Hottle made her feature film debut in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, where she played Jia, a young girl living on Skull Island who forms a unique bond with Kong. Her performance brought Deaf representation to one of Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster franchises, portraying Jia as a character whose identity extended beyond her deafness.

She returned to the role in 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, appearing alongside Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry and Dan Stevens. Her performance earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Younger Performer in a Film.

Photo: Instagram

Born into a Deaf family, Hottle brought her personal experience with American Sign Language and Deaf culture to her performances. Her portrayal of Jia was noted for bringing a Deaf character played by a Deaf actor to the Godzilla film series.

Before her breakthrough in the MonsterVerse franchise, Hottle began acting as a child, appearing in commercials, including a 2017 campaign for Convo, a video relay service platform for the Deaf community. The appearance helped introduce her to wider audiences and eventually contributed to her casting in Godzilla vs. Kong. She also appeared in an episode of the television series Magnum P.I.

Photo: Instagram

Following news of her death, her former school, Texas School for the Deaf, expressed grief over her passing and acknowledged her impact on the community.

Although she appeared in only a handful of projects, Kaylee Hottle’s influence extended beyond film credits. Her work represented a shift towards more inclusive storytelling, showing audiences the importance of authentic casting and diverse voices in entertainment.

At 18, Hottle’s work in the MonsterVerse films remains notable for bringing greater visibility to Deaf talent in mainstream entertainment.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end on July 19, with Spain and Argentina facing off in the final match for the tournament title. The game took place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which was temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the occasion. While thousands of football fans filled the stadium to watch the final, several familiar faces from the worlds of entertainment, fashion, and sports also gathered for the match.

Photo: Getty Images
Madonna at the FIFA World Cup

Aside from the football match itself, the final introduced a new element to the tournament with its first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show. Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, the show featured Madonna as one of the headliners, alongside Justin Bieber, Shakira, and BTS.

Photo: Instagram
Beyonce and Jay-Z

Beyond the performances, the FIFA World Cup final also brought together several major names from the entertainment world. Beyoncé and Jay-Z were among the familiar faces spotted at the event, alongside Rihanna and A$AP Rocky.

Photo: Getty Images
Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet

Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet were also seen at the World Cup final. The couple has become a regular guest at major sporting events, previously attending competitions such as NBA playoff games and Wimbledon together.

Other celebrities, including Winnie Harlow, Tom Cruise, Julia Garner, Lindsey Vonn, David and Victoria Beckham were seen at the World Cup final.

Photo: Getty Images
Jennifer Hudson

Photo: Instagram
Victoria and David Beckham

Photo: Instagram
Tom Cruise

Photo: Getty Images
Winnie Harlow

Photo: Instagram
Queen Letizia of Spain

Photo: Instagram
Chris Martin

Photo: Instagram
Anya Taylor-Joy and Malcolm McRae

Photo: Instagram
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky

Photo: Getty Images
Luciana and Matt Damon

Photo: Getty Images
Galina Becker and Roman Reigns

Photo: Getty Images
Julia Garner

Photo: Getty Images
Chiara Capdevila and Horacio Cartes

Photo: Getty Images
Lindsay Vonn

Photo: Getty Images
Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union

Photo: Getty Images
Jon Hamm

Photo: Getty Images
Alejandra Gere and Richard Gere

Photo: Getty Images
Karl-Anthony Towns

Photo: Getty Images
Tate McRae

A 63-year-old man landed in police custody this week after crashing his car straight through the front gate of Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s East Hampton home, leaving the entrance a wreck. Authorities said the driver approached the property at a high rate of speed and crashed into the closed front gate which caused significant damage. The estate, a seven-bedroom residence in East Hampton, has belonged to Jay-Z and Beyoncé since 2017.

Photo: Instagram

Police arrested the man on charges of criminal trespass and criminal mischief. He was later transported to a local hospital for evaluation, while authorities impounded the vehicle as part of the ongoing investigation.

Officials confirmed there is no evidence to suggest the incident was targeted at Jay-Z, Beyoncé, or any member of their family. Officers found the guy out of sorts, he never mentioned the homeowners at all. Actually, before crashing, he even stopped at a different house down the road and asked for a woman who doesn’t live there. People at the scene described him as confused. So, police are looking into whether a health problem played a role.

Investigators said there is currently no evidence to suggest the incident was intentional. No weapons or other materials indicating a deliberate act were found at the scene.

Photo: Instagram

Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s Hamptons place is one of the most famous celebrity getaways on Long Island, not to mention a private retreat for their family. All this comes just a few weeks after Jay-Z made headlines at his Yankee Stadium residency, with surprise appearances from Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Eminem, and other celebrities.

The investigation’s still open while police dig through medical records and talk to witnesses to figure out exactly what went down. The property’s management is still tallying up how badly the gate got damaged.