A lot of people love actor and comedian Aubrey Plaza. She recently made her first public appearance since the death of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena. Plaza paid a quiet but moving tribute to Baena at the historic 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live on February 16. Baena died on January 3 at the age of 47.
Jeff Baena was a creative filmmaker who died too soon
What did Jeff Baena do?
Jeff Baena was a famous writer and director who was known for telling stories in a very different way. Over the years, he made a name for himself in Hollywood with movies like Life After Beth (2014) and The Little Hours (2017), which both starred Plaza.
His Influence on Independent Film
Baena was admired for writing strange stories and combining dark humor with deep feeling. Existentialism, relationships, and the absurdity of life were common themes in his movies. This made him a recognized figure in the world of independent films.
Tragic Passing at 47
Jeff Baena killed himself on January 3, 2025, which shocked the entertainment business and his family. His sudden death was called a “unimaginable tragedy” by Plaza and his family, who asked for privacy while they dealt with their loss.
How Aubrey Plaza Feels About Coming Back to the Public Eye
Plaza’s Link to SNL
Aubrey Plaza’s appearance at SNL50 was more than just a tribute to her late husband. Plaza did an internship at Saturday Night Live and worked as a page for NBC before she became famous. This return is a sad and important time in her career.
What Does Her Clothes Mean?
During her visit, Plaza introduced Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard, two musicians, while wearing a simple but moving outfit. Fans were quickly drawn to her all-black outfit, which included a tie-dye shirt. This shirt was very important to her because it reminded her of how she and Baena dressed in their unusual wedding.
A Quiet Honor Through Fashion
Plaza has already talked about how she and Baena got married on the spot, saying that they wore tie-dye pajamas that Baena made while she was in quarantine. In a quiet way, she remembered her late husband by adding tie-dye to her SNL50 outfit.
Getting over loss: Plaza’s recent absences from public events
Not going to the Golden Globes
Plaza was supposed to host the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, which would have happened the next day after Baena died. She did, however, withdraw from the event, which was understandable, choosing to mourn alone.
Appearance in a Super Bowl commercial
Plaza was in a Ritz Crackers Super Bowl ad in early February, which made people talk about her return to public life. Later, it was proven that the commercial was actually shot in November 2024, before Baena died.
Getting rid of Instagram because of grief
Plaza took another step away from the public eye when she deleted her Instagram account soon after Baena’s death. She wanted privacy while she dealt with her grief.
A Love Story That Lasts Ten Years
Timeline of Plaza and Baena’s relationship
These two people got married in 2021 after being together for more than ten years. They became friends because they both loved being creative, and they often worked together on projects that showed off their unique artistic unity.
Getting Along in Film
They worked together on several movies, such as Life After Beth, The Little Hours, and Spin Me Round. The projects they worked on together showed how well they got along at work and in their personal lives.
A private but attractive bond
Even though Plaza and Baena were famous in Hollywood, they kept their relationship mostly out of the public eye. They lived a low-key life and supported each other’s jobs.