Aubrey Plaza Opens Up About the “Daily Struggle” of Grieving Husband Jeff Baena
Seven months after the tragic death of her husband, director Jeff Baena, actress Aubrey Plaza is offering a raw and poignant glimpse into her grieving process. The “Parks and Recreation” alum described the profound heartache as a “daily struggle” while appearing on her former co-star Amy Poehler’s podcast, “SmartLess.”
Jeff Baena, writer and director who was married to Aubrey Plaza, has died by suicide, @TMZ reports. He was 47. pic.twitter.com/JNyLzYe76t
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 4, 2025
Plaza acknowledged the difficulty of moving forward but expressed gratitude for her current state. “Overall, I’m here and I’m functioning,” she shared. “I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think like I’m okay, but you know, it’s like a daily struggle obviously.” Her candid words mark one of the first times she has publicly detailed the emotional toll following Baena’s death by suicide in January at the age of 47.
Grief as a Monstrous “Gorge”
new/old photo of aubrey plaza and jeff baena celebrating their birthdays together last year 🤍 pic.twitter.com/reLrczyjXA
— aubrey plaza updates (@plazadeaubreyy) June 29, 2025
In a powerful attempt to articulate the nature of her loss, Plaza drew a striking parallel to the upcoming 2025 film The Gorge, starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy. She described the movie’s setting of two cliffs separated by a monster-filled chasm as a perfect metaphor for her experience.
She explained that her grief feels like a constant, looming presence—a “giant ocean of just awfulness that’s like right there.” Plaza described a fluctuating relationship with this pain: sometimes she wants to dive into it, other times she just looks at it, and often she tries to get away from it. But, she emphasized, “It’s always there. It’s just always there. And the monster people are trying to get me.”
Honoring His Memory
A beautiful and fitting send off for our dear friend Jeff Baena. Jeff, this wasn’t the third act you deserved. Your story was only getting started. Hard to believe we met 30 years ago, because you always lived like you were 19 at heart — and beyond our shared love of Fellini,… pic.twitter.com/SduDiHYMiN
— Kyle Newman (@kyle_newman) April 8, 2025
The couple, married for five years after meeting on the set of his film Life After Beth, shared a deep creative and personal partnership. Following the news in January, Plaza broke her silence with a statement to E! News, calling her husband’s passing an “unimaginable tragedy.” She expressed deep gratitude for the public support while requesting privacy for her family, a request she has maintained until this recent, vulnerable discussion. Her podcast appearance serves as a testament to the complex and enduring pain of loss, painting a heartbreaking picture of life after Jeff Baena.
