Actress Aubrey Plaza made her first public appearance since the death of her husband and longtime partner Jeff Baena, who died last month at the age of 47.
On Sunday, Plaza was among the presenters for “Saturday Night Live’s” 50th anniversary special, introducing a performance of “Nothing Compares 2 U” from singer Miley Cyrus and Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard.
It was Plaza’s first public appearance since Baena was found at his Los Angeles-area home on Jan. 3, dead from an apparent suicide.
Baena co-wrote the 2004 comedy “I Heart Huckabees,” launching a successful filmmaking career that saw him direct Plaza in the films “Life After Beth” and “Spin Me Round.” The couple were together for more than 10 years before tying the knot in 2020.
Plaza, 40, who starred as the sardonic intern April Ludgate in NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” before finding broader success in “The White Lotus” and Marvel’s “Agatha All Along,” started her showbiz career as an intern at SNL and would later host the program in 2023.
During her brief appearance Sunday night, she wore a tie-dye shirt under a black blazer, a tribute to her husband.
In a 2021 interview on the “Drew Barrymore Show,” Plaza said Baena had picked up tie-dying as a hobby and they eventually wed while wearing one of his creations.
“Jeff got really into tie-dyeing during the quarantine, so I decided that Jeff and I were going to wear tie-dye pajamas that he had made for us,” she said at the time.
If you or someone you know is experiencing mental distress or suicidal thoughts, you can contact the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by phone call or text. You can also visit 988lifeline.org.
