Aubrey Plaza opens up about dealing with grief post husband Jeff Baena’s death by suicide: ‘It’s a daily struggle’ |

Actor Aubrey Plaza bravely spoke up for the first time about the loss of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, who died by suicide in January at the age of 47.In a conversation with her friend and ‘Parks and Recreation’ co-star Amy Poehler, Plaza opened up about handling grief post her husband’s tragic demise. Amy on her podcast, Good Hang asked Plaza how she was doing during “a terrible, terrible, tragic year.”

Plaza on dealing with grief

“Right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you,” the actress replied and went on to add, “Overall, I’m here and I’m functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I’m OK, but it’s like a daily struggle, obviously.”Baena, best known for directing Plaza in comedies such as ‘Life After Beth’ and ‘The Little Hours’, died at his Los Angeles home earlier this year. According to reports, he was found dead inside his home and the cause of his demise was later determined to be suicide. No foul play was suspected.

Grief: A giant ocean of awfulness

During the podcast, Plaza likened her grief to the sci-fi horror film ‘The Gorge’ starring Miles Teller. “In the movie, there’s a cliff on one side and a cliff on the other side and there’s a gorge in between, and it’s filled with all these monster people that are trying to get them. I swear when I watched it, I was like, ‘That’s what this feels like, what my grief is like – or what grief could be like’,” she said.Using what she called a “dumb analogy” to describe its intensity, she added, “At all times there’s like a giant ocean of awfulness that’s like right there, and I can see it. And sometimes, I just want to dive into it and be in it. And then sometimes, I just look at it. And then sometimes, I’m just trying to get away from it. But it’s always there.”She further added, “It’s just always there. And the monster people are trying to get me like Miles Teller.”

About Plaza and Baena’s relationship

Plaza and Baena met in 2011 and married in 2021 on their tenth anniversary as a couple. Plaza revealed on The Ellen Show, that the wedding was an impromptu event in their backyard while sheltering in place during the pandemic. According to reports, the couple was separated at the time of Baena’s death.Beyond his work with Plaza, Baena co-wrote ‘I Heart Huckabees’ with David O. Russell and directed the 2022 dark comedy ‘Spin Me Round’, starring Plaza and Alison Brie.Baena and Plaza, who were allegedly separated at the time of his death. At the time, Plaza and his family released a joint statement describing the loss as “an unimaginable tragedy.” They added, “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”Plaza, who is also known for her role in ‘The White Lotus’, will next appear in Ethan Coen’s comedy ‘Honey Don’t’.DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, or mental illness, please seek professional help immediately from a doctor, mental health expert, or NGO. Helplines are also available.