Meet Wicked director Jon M. Chu’s wife, Kristin Hodge: he skipped hanging with Ariana Grande at the film’s LA premiere when designer Kristin gave birth to their fifth child
Hodge is a career designer who has worked with Taylor Swift nemesis Scooter Braun; she supports Chu’s career and has even given their children movie-inspired names
On November 9, Chu managed to attend a Q&A session, moderated by Oscar-nominated director Lee Daniels, during a three-hour window afforded by his wife’s delayed labour. He then rushed to her bedside to support her through the birth ... while catching the live stream of the premiere. As the little one was born, Chu shared the special moment on Instagram Stories, writing, “Magic is in the air … Welcome to our world. You’re gonna do great. You have a lot of witches on your side.”
Chu shared a virtual message with the audience at the premiere to explain his absence, saying, “I’ve waited for three years to have this moment and share our movie with you, but I’ve waited my whole life to have this moment, to have our fifth child, right now.” After the birth of his daughter, the multitasking father ran back to make an appearance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, where the premiere was held, after audiences had watched the film.
The “Chuniverse”, as the Crazy Rich Asians director calls his family, includes children Willow, seven, Jonathan, five, Ruby, three and Iggy, one. But what do we know about their mother, Kristin Hodge?
Kristin Hodge has a career in design
Her children have special names
The Chus named their eldest daughter Willow after the 1988 adventure-fantasy film of the same name; their son, Jonathan Heights, owes his middle name to Chu’s 2021 film In the Heights, which he was filming when Jonathan was born. When it came to their family’s newest addition, Chu jokingly assured fans she wouldn’t be called Galphaba after Wicked characters Glinda and Elphaba.