Kathy Hilton, the Beverly Hills philanthropist and reality-TV matriarch, slipped into the comments section of an old Instagram video on Friday and left a simple message: “Rip Sophia,” followed by four white-heart emojis, a red heart, and praying hands. The post belonged to Sophia Hutchins, Caitlyn Jenner’s long-time friend and manager, who was killed in a Malibu ATV accident on July 2. The understated gesture from Hilton—who had no known personal ties to Hutchins—quickly drew notice from fans mourning the 29-year-old entrepreneur’s sudden death.
The devastating crash
Authorities say Hutchins was driving a 2013 Polaris ATV along Decker Edison Road, the steep canyon route that snakes behind Jenner’s Malibu compound, when she struck the rear bumper of a moving car around 11:30 a.m. The impact sent the ATV over the shoulder and 350 feet down a ravine; Hutchins was pronounced dead at the scene, while the occupants of the car were uninjured.
A life cut short
Born in Bellevue, Washington, on April 1, 1996, Hutchins began transitioning while studying economics at Pepperdine University. She met Jenner in 2015 through a mutual makeup artist, eventually becoming the Olympian’s manager and CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation. Hutchins also founded the UV-tech skin-care start-up LumaSol, appeared on E!’s I Am Cait, and often accompanied Jenner to Kardashian-Jenner family events.
Why Hilton’s comment resonated
Hilton’s brief message struck a chord precisely because it came from outside Hutchins’ immediate circle, signaling how widely the news reverberated. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, known for her public battles with social-media drama, opted for unadorned sympathy rather than a lengthy eulogy—an approach many followers applauded in replies that echoed her emoji-laden send-off.
Outpouring of support
Hutchins’ Instagram page has since become a digital vigil, with comments ranging from trans-flag emojis to long reflections on the visibility she provided to young transgender entrepreneurs. E! News, PEOPLE, ABC 7 Los Angeles, and TMZ all confirmed the crash details as tributes poured in from LGBTQ-advocacy groups, Pepperdine alumni, and members of the Kardashian-Jenner orbit.
What happens next
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is awaiting toxicology results but has found no initial signs of impairment. Funeral plans have not been announced, though sources close to the Jenner family say a private service is likely before a larger public memorial later this summer.
