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Actress Aubrey Plaza made her first public appearance since the tragic loss of her husband Jeff Baena, joining the star-studded lineup at NBC's SNL50: The Anniversary Special on Sunday evening. The 40-year-old actress, known for her roles in "Parks and Recreation" and "The White Lotus," took to the stage to introduce a poignant musical performance by Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard.
Dressed in understated black attire – dress pants paired with a blazer and simple tee – Plaza's presence marked a tentative step back into the public sphere following six weeks of private mourning. While she opted to skip the preceding red carpet festivities, her participation in the celebration highlighted her enduring connection to the SNL community, where she had previously hosted in January 2023.
The couple's story began in 2011, blossoming into a creative partnership that spawned several collaborative projects, including the Sundance-nominated "Life After Beth." Their 2021 marriage, characteristically unconventional, was decided and executed within hours. As Plaza once shared on "The Drew Barrymore Show," "The marriage was just like a joke that honestly went too far. We got married on a whim – literally decided at around 5 p.m. and got married at 8:30."
Baena, a respected writer and director whose career launched with 2004's "I Heart Huckabees," was discovered deceased at a Los Angeles residence on January 3, 2025. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner later confirmed the cause as suicide. He was 47.
In their only public statement following the loss, Plaza and Baena's family expressed their gratitude amid overwhelming grief: "This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time."
During January's Golden Globe Awards, where Plaza had been scheduled to present, director Brady Corbet honored her absence while accepting his award for "The Brutalist," stating, "Tonight my heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff's family."
