Aubrey Plaza Confronts Grief and Finds Light Seven Months After Husband’s Death

Aubrey Plaza has offered a rare and candid reflection on a personal ordeal that has largely remained out of the public eye. In a revealing episode of Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, the actress addressed the persistent emotional weight following the death of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, who died by suicide on January 3, 2025.

The moment marks her first detailed public commentary on the loss.

Plaza described grief as a "daily struggle," acknowledging that while she continues to function, the pain remains constant.

She shared:

“Right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you… Overall, I’m here and I’m functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I’m okay, but it’s like a daily struggle”.

To articulate the nature of her grief, Plaza turned to The Gorge, a 2025 sci-fi horror film. She called it “a really dumb analogy” yet one that rang true. In the film, two snipers fend off “monster people” from opposing cliffs above a gorge, an image she said captured her experience: “At all times, there’s, like, a giant ocean of awfulness that’s right there and I can see it. Sometimes I just want to dive into it and be in it. And sometimes I look at it and sometimes I just try to get away from it, but it’s always there”.

Amy Poehler prompted Plaza to explain how she manages to “stay on the cliff and not in the gorge.” Plaza credited a tight-knit group of female friends: “We have, like, a text chain and we do Zooms and trips… those girls make me laugh really, really hard”.

Plaza and Baena had been together since 2011 and married privately in 2021. They separated in September 2024 when Plaza moved to New York. Their relationship also included professional collaborations on projects like Life After Beth, The Little Hours, Joshy, and Spin Me Round.

After his death, both Plaza and Baena’s family issued a statement calling it “an unimaginable tragedy” and requesting privacy.

Her first public tribute came during the SNL50 anniversary, where she wore a tie-dye shirt to mirror the pajamas they wore when they married during quarantine.

This episode marks a turning point: Plaza is no longer silent. She’s acknowledging ongoing pain, expressing gratitude for small joys, and grounding herself in friendships.

Her reflections may resonate deeply with anyone wrestling with loss and seeking both honesty and hope.