Aubrey Plaza Details 'Daily Struggle' Of Grief Following Jeff Baena’s Death

Aubrey Plaza is reflecting on her grief and daily struggles after her husband Jeff Baena's death.

Plaza opened up about her "terrible, tragic year," including her late husband's sudden passing, while appearing on a recent episode of her longtime friend and Parks and Recreation costar Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast. The writer and director died by suicide January 3 at just 47 years old.

"Right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you," she admitted. "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, obviously."

The Agatha All Along star compared the grief she has been navigating for the last several months to The Gorge, a 2025 sci-fi/horror film starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, calling it a "really dumb analogy" that started as a joke but ultimately reflected how she was feeling.

"In the movie, there's like a cliff on one side and there's a cliff on the other side, then there's gorge in between and it's filled with all these like monster people that are trying to get them," Plaza said. She explained how the scenario reflects her own experience with grief. "At all times there's like a giant ocean of awfulness, that's like right there and I can see it. Sometimes I just want to dive into it, and just like be in it. Then sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it. But, it's always there."

Baena and Plaza began dating in 2011 and privately tied the knot ten years later, per People. Following his death in January, Plaza and Baena's family shared a statement about the "unimaginable tragedy" and expressed how "deeply grateful" they were to those who had shown support during the difficult time.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, there is help. Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 by dialing "988," visit the website at 988lifeline.org or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting "HOME" to 741741.