Warning: This article discusses grief and suicide.
Following the death of director Jeff Baena in January,Aubrey Plazahas recently opened up about losing her late husband. Plaza portrayedApril Ludgate inParks and Recreationfrom 2009 to 2015, which launched her into superstardom. During this time, she met Jeff Baena and went on to appear in four of his movies, the most notable beingLife After Beth.
Jeff Baena’s other titles includeHorse Girl, which he worked on with writing partner Alison Brie, andThe Little Hours. Baena died by suicide on Jun 07, 2025, which devastated both the world of cinema and his loved ones. In a recent episode ofGood Hang with Amy Poehler, Plaza speaks out about Baena’s death for the very first time. See her comments below:
I mean, right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with [Poehler]… I’m here, and I’m functioning, and I feel, you know, like I feel really grateful to be moving through the world… it’s like a daily struggle. At all times, there’s like a giant like ocean of just awfulness that’s like right there… Sometimes I just want to like just dive into it… And then, sometimes, I just like look at it and then sometimes I’m like I just attempt to get away from it, but it’s always there.
What This Means For Aubrey Plaza
Plaza has always been relatively private about her personal life. Before meeting Baena, she dated herScott Pilgrim vs. the Worldco-star Michael Cerafor 18 months. Plaza met Baena at a game night in 2011, and the pair quickly sparked up a romantic relationship before working on several films together. Overall, they were a couple for around 14 years.
2014
2016
2017
Spin Me Round
2022
Baena proposed to Plaza while visiting a site related to the Basque witch trials in Zugarramurdi, and during the COVID lockdown in 2021, they married in a small ceremony at their home. After Baena’s death, it was reported that the two had quietly separated in September 2024, but they still remained in close contact.
Our Take On Aubrey Plaza’s Comments
What’s fascinating, though, is how Plaza describes her current outlook. While reflecting with Poehler, Plaza uses a “dumb analogy” based on theApple TV+ movieThe Gorge:
There’s a cliff on one side, and then there’s a cliff on the other side, and then there’s Gorge in between, and it’s like filled with all these like monster people that are trying to get them… And I swear, when I watched it, I was like, “That feels like what my grief is like.”
Plaza hasn’t directly commented on Baena’s passing until this point. She was originally supposed to be one of the hosts of the 2025 Golden Globes, but pulled out at the last moment due to her husband’s death. Since then, she’s made a few brief appearances on TV, but she hasn’t put herself in a vulnerable place until now.
Considering Baena died only 8 months ago, it’s incredibly brave to see her discuss how she’s coping. Regardless of the reports of their split, nobody except Plaza knew what was happening behind closed doors.
Baena’s death is still painful for her, no matter their relationship status prior to his demise. It’s important to note that regardless of whether you likeAubrey Plazaand her various works or not, she deserves respect and privacy as she navigates her grief.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
