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Aubrey Plaza has broken her silence following the death of her husband Jeff Baena on January 3.
The actress and Baena’s family released a joint statement, days after the 47-year-old filmmaker was found dead at the couple’s LA home.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time,” the statement read, which was obtained by the New York Post.
Baena was reportedly found dead by an assistant at the couple’s home in Los Angeles according to TMZ.
Sources told the publication that the filmmaker was pronounced dead at the scene, with the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirming Baena died by suicide.
The family’s statement comes after fans looked towards a heartbreaking scene from a recent movie starring his wife Plaza.
My Old Ass, which was released in September 2024 is a coming-of-age comedy that sees 18-year-old Elliott, played by Maisy Stella, meet her 39-year-old self, played by Plaza.
In the film, future Elliott warns her younger self to stay away from a boy named Chad, but despite her best efforts the teenagers fall for each other, leading younger Elliot to demand answers.
“He died. That’s what he did. Chad dies. And he dies after you have fallen so madly in love with him that you can’t see straight, okay? After you can’t imagine loving anybody else ever again,” Plaza’s character says.
“And no, you can’t save him. I know that’s what you’re going to say, but no, you can’t save him. There’s nothing you can do.”
Multiple TikToks of the scene were uploaded following the death of Plaza’s husband and quickly went viral, with many commenting on the heartbreaking similarity to Plaza’s life off-screen.
Plaza and Baena began dating in 2011, and although the pair never announced their engagement or wedding, the Parks and Recreation actress referred to her “darling husband” in a 2021 Instagram post. She later confirmed during an appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show that they had tied the knot on their 10-year anniversary.
Whilst the couple kept many details of their relationship out of the public eye, they were open about the dynamics of working together throughout the years.
“She’s awesome. I’d be working with her if she wasn’t my wife, but luckily she is my wife,” Baena previously told Reel Talker in 2022. “The opportunity to do something creative [together] where we’re both fulfilled – how rare is that?”
“I think that when you’re with someone that is in your field, they understand what you’re dealing with on a deeper level,” Plaza told People magazine in 2019. “So obviously, you are able to support each other and really understand kind of the journey that we’re both on.”
Plaza was set to present an award at the Golden Globes, which were held just days after the death of her husband.
During the award ceremony, The Brutalist director Brady Corbet paid respect to the family during his acceptance speech, telling the audience “My heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s family.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help is always available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit their website.
