Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone previewed Saturday’s La Liga fixture against Alavés and assessed his team’s struggles on the road this season while responding to speculation about potential transfer business that could be on the horizon When asked specifically about one target, Villarreal midfielder Alex Baena he responded bluntly: “You ask me a compromising question about a player who could come He went on to add “if I answer that he plays spectacularly Diego Pablo Simeone sobre Álex Baena. pic.twitter.com/Qdg1iWSsNx “The last match (at Las Palmas) went badly for us and in other important stadiums the team responded I hope we can get closer to the version of Atlético which responded well in different stadiums throughout the season.” with clarity about what we want now and for what is coming we will try to finish the season in the best possible way.” “We have to finish game by game, in the best possible way. Barcelona and Real Madrid are in a strong position to compete with each other and have a direct matchup (next weekend) We have to think about improving and about the match against Alavés who have been doing very well in the last few weeks and we want to take the game to where we think we can do some damage.” because he is clear about what he is looking for in his life and because he adapts to what the team needs thanks to his characteristics except for the one in which we won the league But now he has a more global concept of the team and that puts him in a place I like very much.” “We lost 9 or 10 points at stadiums where we should have got them.” “He has gotten better and better through the season He loves the club and is doing very well at Alavés We hope that he continues to improve and that his growth does not stop.” 2025Jeff BaenaCourtesy of Chad Hartigan.Save this storySaveSave this storySaveI could never put into words what Jeff Baena meant to those of us who called him a friend—and I probably shouldn’t even try I was a visitor in Jeff’s life and in his home but it wasn’t a place where he lived—Jeff’s house was a social nexus that existed wherever he happened to be His life’s work—I’ve come to realize over these last few days—was creating for dozens (maybe hundreds?) of people a sense of community that reflected all aspects of his personality (I saw him in passing while staying at his house when I’d return home after a late night.) Game night Jeff He was undefeated—and undefeatable—at Scrabble It was astonishing and maddening to play him and I am incredible at Scrabble.) Movie lover Jeff round and round in circles.) And the Jeff the public could and still can access: filmmaker Jeff I had the privilege of being convinced to spend a month with this Jeff He asked me to play a central role in his second film We had bonded over our mutual love of games and he wanted me to be a character not unlike myself: at a bachelor weekend wanting mostly to avoid strippers and booze in favor of setting up a game table I didn’t want to do it because I was intimidated by the improvisational structure of the film and going toe-to-toe with undeniable comedic powerhouses like Thomas Middleditch and Brett Gelman.) Joe Swanberg said I had no choice: “Be the guy who helps the filmmaker make the movie he sees in his head.” Jeff saw Joshy in his head and I was in it Making Joshy in Ojai meant residing in Jeff’s house for a month Every day ended with the cast eating together and listening to music that Jeff The “work” was an opportunity for him to sit at the head of the table and not get up for weeks whether at his home for a night or on a shoot for weeks I was with Jeff when he built a house in Baltimore We were attending the Maryland Film Festival in 2017 and he was livid that he forgot to pack Codenames To have that many filmmakers in one place and not have game night was unthinkable a handmade Codenames deck so that in a multipurpose room on the top floor of the hotel—which we did not have permission to be in—everybody could be a guest at Jeff’s bespoke game night By Alex Ross Perry.I’ve been speaking with many people who knew and loved him to try and understand the Jeffs that I didn’t know or know as well I asked Alison Brie—who made four movies with him Horse Girl and Spin Me Round—what she thought the thing was about him that made him so special to all of us “He wanted us to have a whole experience that wasn’t just what was on camera,” she said “When I think about our two trips to Italy for The Little Hours and Spin Me Round the social side of it was equal if not more important Someone like Paul Reiser would fly out for a day of shooting in Italy and then fly back to America There was a magic about working with Jeff—he could sell people on this magic artistic situation It wasn’t about ‘let’s see if this person can act this role.’ It was about ‘let’s get a great collection of people and hang with them.’” I remember hearing a (possibly apocryphal) story that when Altman would call up his usual cast and collaborators for a new movie “We’re having another party.” Jeff had a party at his house twice a week—poker night and game night He had a filmmaking party every 18 months or so Not because you were required to—you wanted to The people you’d be around had been invited by someone with very discerning standards for who would vibe with the energy so a good time in great company was guaranteed I asked a group chat to share photos of Jeff’s house—game nights I’ve looked at the 60 photos Chad Hartigan sent of various get-togethers over the past year you’d see an actor or two you maybe recognized was content to be another guest at game night When the door opened and the players came through Jeff and Aubrey’s home became Jeff’s house with Jeff’s rules in an undated photo.by David Crotty/Getty ImagesHe—controversially—required people entering his home to take COVID-19 tests well into 2023 He’d hold court and tell you facts and opinions of his (turns out all his opinions were facts) explain why a movie you liked was bad or a view of yours should be revisited and then get up to give you some remedy for your diet or health issues I remember hearing Marc Maron interview Garry Shandling on WTF He spoke of these legendary pick-up basketball games at his house Maron confessed he always thought coming to them would have been a great opportunity to meet amazing people Shandling shot this down: If you thought of it as an opportunity knowing I won’t sit at Jeff’s table again for a game night Because this logic is simultaneously correct and not: Situations like these were an opportunity but only for a unique social experience that may or may not later shift to Ojai or Italy for a quick film shoot and then relocate back to Los Angeles to be continued I had the opportunity at Jeff’s house to meet some truly amazing people and introduce Jeff to some too: My friend Liz came to pick me up at his house once and never left She remained a part of both poker night and game night ultimately playing more games with him than I probably ever did I don’t know what meaning these recollections will turn out to have I wanted to write this so that I can read it later and remember what Jeff’s house meant to me For somebody reading this who knows Jeff only as a filmmaker his distinct social presence is essential to understanding him as a person as a filmmaker—not unlike myself or our mutual friend Swanberg (who introduced me to him)—Jeff was a director who worked often all render us part of a continuum of like-minded filmmakers That is one room in the house that Jeff built: a house with a door that was always open and plenty of friends or future friends waiting to greet you I lived too far away; I saw Jeff too infrequently I’m not the person to write about Jeff’s house I’m a person who is writing about Jeff’s house I’d like to read 10 other recollections of other peoples’ experiences of being at his house—the one he lived in or the one he built to bring his creative family together How Miriam Adelson Went From Big MAGA Winner to Casino Loser in Trump’s First 100 Days Trump’s Lies Are Finally Catching Up to Him The UK Has Found Another Reason to Be Mad at Meghan Markle “It’s About Him”: How Trump Is Perverting the Presidential Photo Stream The Ballad of Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson The Truth Underlying Pete Hegseth’s Job Security Why Are Americans So Obsessed With Protein How Sebastian Stan Became Hollywood’s Most Daring Shape-Shifter Every Quentin Tarantino Movie Meet Elon Musk’s 14 Children and Their Mothers (Whom We Know of) From the Archive: Sinatra and the Mob FC Barcelona is already starting to make moves for the summer market, and one of the names that stands out on the agenda is Álex Baena. The Villarreal midfielder has been followed by the Catalan club for some time Both Joan Laporta and Deco are admirers of his style and believe he could fit perfectly into the team's playing philosophy last season he was the top assist provider in the five major leagues Barça sees him as an ideal option to strengthen the midfield and add depth to an area already rich in quality Although Baena is open to making the leap to Camp Nou he is not willing to do so under any circumstances The Spanish midfielder has made his condition clear: if he leaves Villarreal it is to have a leading role and be a regular starter He doesn't want to arrive as a secondary piece or wait for his opportunity from the bench This represents a dilemma for Barça, which, while considering him the natural replacement for Pedri, can't guarantee him immediate starting status meeting that demand will be quite a challenge for the club's sports management Baena is not the only one demanding prominence with whom he shared a locker room at the Paris 2024 Olympics has also expressed that he will not accept a secondary role next season Both players have a similar offensive profile and share the ambition to be important in their respective teams ➡️ Male Movies The filmmaker behind "Life After Beth," "The Little Hours" and "Horse Girl" passed away this Friday at age 47 spoke about the way Jewish mysticism impacted his work where you find the sparks of divinity in the trash and elevate it to make it divine,” he said Italian American fast food chains — and made them divine and despite being so wide-ranging in subject matter — from period pieces to zombie flicks — so very clearly his own I remember watching the first feature movie he co-wrote in his early 20s Russell’s “I Heart Huckabees,” and how it forever changed the way I thought about film a profoundly philosophical movie that felt sincere and not self-important while also expanding your world Every film after that felt like a truly unique gift a movie-watching experience that was all its own and one that you could rewatch over and over They are movies that you can watch on your own for comfort in a dark moment but I love the communal experience of watching and laughing at them with other people with big ensemble casts that let every castmember shine And many of his films were filled with little Jewish details that made them even more delightful for this particular Jewish viewer There was “Life After Beth,” a Jewish zombie movie that starts with a shiva (there were real halakhic reasons why Baena chose to make the family of the titular Beth played by Baena’s girlfriend and future wife There was “Joshy,” about a bachelor’s trip gone wrong in which Adam Pally and Jenny Slate’s characters bond over a Jewish summer camp connection There was even a Jewish joke in “The Little Hours,” Baena’s movie set in a Middle Ages convent and based on “The Decathlon,” that had me howling featuring Paul Reiser as the most Jewish of Middle Ages Catholic dads as Maron rightfully observed in his interview with Baena His father had moved the family there because of his work as a lawyer He credited the early childhood experience of watching “Clockwork Orange” and then “8 1/2” with first instilling in him a love for strange cinema and his parents’ divorce with informing his sense of humor (“most comedy probably comes from drama,” Baena said in 2022) and Baena would end up back in the city to study film at NYU where he also took classes on Jewish mysticism and philosophy and minored in Medieval studies where his first gig was working with filmmaker Robert Zemeckis as a production assistant a and where he briefly met Steven Spielberg They worked on the 2000 movies “What Lies Beneath and “Cast Away” together including a re-write of “Meet the Fockers.” And then Baena ventured out on his own but when actor and collaborator Adam Pally’s mother passed away before they started shooting he ended up working on the 2014 “Life After Beth” instead he released “Joshy,” then “The Little Hours” a year later one of two of his movies that were shot in Italy Baena’s last two films were co-written with Jewish actress Alison Brie (“GLOW”) There was the haunting “Horse Girl,” inspired by Brie’s family history with schizophrenia and mental illness “Turn Me Round,” in which Brie plays a manager at an Italian chain called Tuscan Grove who gets sent on a trip to Italy by the company and that is a direct representation of who Jeff was Authentic,” Pally wrote in a moving eulogy to his friend whom he called a “sweet Jewish boy from Miami.” “You never worried that Jeff wasn’t telling you the way it is Cause Jeff’s virtue was telling you the way it was,” he continued A post shared by Adam Pally (@adam.pally) That is indeed the wonderful thing about Baena’s movies from the humorous lines to the portrayal of both death and mental illness which strayed away from melodrama — grief and psychological struggles both felt real and natural and sometimes They made anyone struggling with them feel seen in little and big moments in ways that could sometimes feel triggering but that always felt real the scrappiest basketball player with the ugliest jump shot you ever saw He was a talented director with impeccable taste and vision the guy who knows where the best restaurant was no matter where you were An overly gracious host with an almost disturbing open door policy and most importantly to me a friend,” Pally wrote about Baena He was a brilliant writer and director and on top of that so visual with an amazing eye And so kind and thoughtful bringing everyone together (almost always in Italy!!!) his work lives on His memory lives on forever,” Molly Shannon Brett Gelman and Lauren Weedman also shared their profound love for the direcor who “made everyone his family” and “knew how to gather people together and create actual community.” whom he married on their 10th anniversary back in 2011 released a statement with the Baena family after his passing asking for privacy amidst their “unimaginable loss.” His movies hold in them that beautiful sense of community he helped foster If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Lior Zaltzman is the deputy managing editor of Kveller By submitting I agree to the privacy policy. Your Ads Privacy ChoicesIMDb Aubrey Plaza and husband Jeff Baena had been separated for months before the film director died by suicide in January according to a Medical Examiner’s report obtained by E Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena were navigating marital struggles before tragedy struck The couple, who wed in 2021 after 10 years together, were "experiencing recent marital difficulties" and separated months before the Spin Me Round director’s death by suicide in January, according to a Medical Examiner’s report obtained by E! News. In the report, authorities said Baena, who was 47, and the White Lotus star had separated in September when she moved to New York police said the estranged couple spoke on the phone the night before his death told authorities she received a text message from Baena—in what would be his final communication to her—hours before he was pronounced dead The Medical Examiner also noted that the film director was found dead by his dog walker who entered the home after hearing loud music coming from inside Three days later, Plaza addressed his passing in a joint statement with his family father Scott Baena and stepmother Michele Baena “This is an unimaginable tragedy,” they said in the statement obtained by E! News at the time “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support Please respect our privacy during this time.” Other stars who honored Baena following his death include Molly Shannon, Alison Brie and Jake Johnson, who shared a succinct tribute to the filmmaker on social media “I love you Jeff,” the New Girl alum wrote on Instagram For a closer look at Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena’s relationship While Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena didn't share much insight into  the early days of their romance, they started dating in 2011 after meeting during a game of Balderdash But one thing the Parks & Recreation star divulged is that from the start  “We’re so obsessed with movies,” she told Page Six in 2017 “That’s why we’re making movies together.” It wasn’t until three years into their relationship that they made their first movie together While she and Jeff generally kept their romance out of the public eye Aubrey admitted that having a partner in the entertainment industry has some benefits “I think that when you’re with someone that is in your field, they understand what you’re dealing with on a deeper level,” she told People in June 2019 “So obviously you are able to support each other and really understand kind of the journey that we’re both on.” But that’s not to say it doesn’t take its own work “So I think that can be really great,” the Child’s Play alum noted working with your partner can always be challenging There’s a lot of things we do separately and I think that it’s all about balance." After a decade together, Aubrey confirmed she and Jeff had tied the knot while giving him a rare shoutout on social media—and teasing their fourth movie together 2022: Jeff Shares Insight Why He and Aubrey Work So Well Together Jeff made it clear that he’s not just her husband or director “She’s awesome,” he explained on the Reel Talker podcast in 2022. “I’d be working with her if she wasn’t my wife, but luckily she is my wife,” Baena told Reel Talker in 2022 “The opportunity to do something creative where we’re both fulfilled Three years before Jeff's sudden death at age 47, he and Aubrey worked on their fourth and final film together they also made The Little Hours and she appeared in his 2016 film Joshy Jeff and Aubrey were experiencing “marital difficulties" in the months before his passing, according to a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report released in March 2025. In the report, obtained by E! News, police said Aubrey confirmed that the two separated in September 2024 when she moved to New York Aubrey told investigators she and Jeff remained in contact after the split Officials said the pair spoke on the phone the night before Jeff’s death while Aubrey told police he sent her a text message three hours before he was found dead New insights into Wilmington actress Aubrey Plaza's relationship with her late husband who died three months ago at the age of 47 have been disclosed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Department An investigative summary report from the medical examiner obtained Wednesday, March 19, by USA TODAY stated that Plaza and Baena had been separated since September per a witness statement Plaza provided to police People was first to report the news Baena was pronounced dead at his Los Angeles residence at around 10:39 a.m according to the medical examiner's case on his death The cause of death was determined to be suicide "This is an unimaginable tragedy," a statement on behalf of Plaza and the Baena family "We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support Please respect our privacy during this time."  The couple started dating in 2010 and were quietly married in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic Baena and Plaza had collaborated on numerous projects including the 2014 dark comedy "Life After Beth," which Baena wrote and directed The film was nominated for the grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival The couple most recently worked together on the 2022 romantic comedy "Spin Me Round," which featured Plaza alongside stars Alison Brie mother Barbara Stern and stepfather Roger Stern father Scott Baena and stepmother Michele Baena brother Brad Baena and stepsiblings Bianca Gabay and Jed Fluxman Plaza has been pretty quiet since the death of her husband She deactivated her Instagram account in January Plaza and her peers recommended that the Trump administration uphold existing copyright protections against AI companies "We firmly believe that America’s global AI leadership must not come at the expense of our essential creative industries," according to the letter, which was published in a story by Deadline on Monday, March 17 “America’s arts and entertainment industry supports over 2.3M American jobs with over $229Bn in wages annually while providing the foundation for American democratic influence and soft power abroad.”  But the Hollywood collective is concerned they might become vulnerable to AI companies if they’re not protected "AI companies are asking to undermine this economic and cultural strength by weakening copyright protections for the films and voices used to train AI models at the core of multi-billion dollar corporate valuations," the letter stated Aubrey Plaza in Ritz Super Bowl 2025 ad: It was filmed before husband Jeff Baena died After death, rapper Mac Miller floats: Thanks to Delaware artist who made 'Balloonerism' album cover Plaza made her first public appearance since Baena's death on Feb. 16 when "Saturday Night Live" celebrated turning 50 that weekend The Wilmington actor Plaza once interned for "SNL,'' served as a page for NBC and also hosted the show in 2023 Plaza introduced Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard who paid tribute to the late Sinéad O'Connor and her iconic cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U." If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help from a professional and call 988. The United States’ first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline988 will connect callers with trained mental health counselors If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters "We miss him so much and still can’t believe this is all real," Baena wrote on Instagram while paying tribute to his late nephew Vicente Three months after filmmaker Jeff Baena's death at 47 years old the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Department has made public some new information from its investigation An investigative summary report from the medical examiner obtained Wednesday by USA TODAY stated that Aubrey Plaza and Baena had been separated since September People was first to report the news Baena was pronounced dead at his LA residence at around 10:39 a.m Please respect our privacy during this time." If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741 Villarreal are so pleased with Álex Baena's decision to remain at the club that they have offered to temporarily print for free the player's name on the back of the club's jerseys that fans buy According to ESPN sources, Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli were ready to activate the Spanish winger's €55 million ($57m) release clause and pay him €15m ($15.5m) per year in a three-year deal to join them Villarreal tweeted on Thursday evening: "Done FREE screen printing on the t-shirt @alexbbaena in Physical and Online Stores on purchases made today and tomorrow." Villarreal executive Fernando Roig was thrilled that the Spain international has decided to stay put "Ten days ago he told us of this possibility via his agent," Roig said "But we received a first offer on Thursday He has decided to stay and we are more than happy with the decision he has taken admitted the decision to turn down such a tempting offer was not an easy one Álex Baena turned down an offer from Saudi club Al Ahli. Aitor Alcalde Colomer/Getty Images"It's been a little hectic," Rodríguez said of the last 12 hours making a decision like this was complicated since it was something very sudden and it was difficult for him he would sit down with the club and look at what is best for both of them For the club it was somewhat annoying that he had to leave in the winter market He stays at home and whatever has to come in the future will come." Baena has scored five goals and set up five more in 19 league appearances this season A target of Barcelona, Baena has a contract with the Yellow Submarine until June 2028. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Baena is survived by his wife of four years, actor Aubrey Plaza the family released a brief statement about their loss We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support Many of Baena’s former friends and colleagues have also taken to social media to acknowledge his death and remember their time together This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. Álex Baena has been one of the big names at the start of the market one of the great revelations of the season was on the radar of two giants of Spanish soccer: Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona Both went after him with very serious proposals his entourage has held conversations with both clubs Flick saw him as a perfect midfielder for his system Diego Simeone personally insisted on his arrival The player has considered everything carefully before taking the step Atlético de Madrid is in full reconstruction With several departures planned this summer Simeone is looking for footballers who add quality Álex Baena meets all those conditions and has been his direct request for the midfield The Argentine coach values his versatility He believes he can adapt very well to the red-and-white system the club is willing to pay the 45 million euros of his clause The goal is to close as soon as possible and prevent Premier League clubs Simeone Can Steal Him | @simeoneBut Barça Also Wanted to Take HimMeanwhile Laporta and Deco initiated serious contacts after Flick's approval The German coach considers him a strategic signing to reinforce the midfield especially if departures occur this summer Baena fit perfectly into Barça's play style: technical Flick saw him as an ideal alternative to rotate with Pedri and even as an impact player from the bench in big matches the culé club couldn't compete financially their salary structure and financial fair play limitations left little room for maneuver and Dani Olmo | @FCBarcelonaBaena Has Already Communicated His DecisionAfter weeks of analysis the player and his entourage have already conveyed their final decision A call to his agent made it clear: the footballer has chosen the project that excites him the most and where he feels most valued The club that gets Álex Baena's "yes" has already started preparing the contract details and the salary will be higher than that offered by Barça Although they didn't want to part with their star they understand that with an offer of 45 million The agreement will be executed through the full payment of the clause Álex Baena has chosen Atlético de Madrid as his next destination Simeone has won the battle against Laporta and the player will wear red-and-white next season It will be one of the big moves of the summer The operation is closed: direct payment of the clause and a leading role in Atleti's new project The Argentine coach considers him a cornerstone in the new era that is approaching at the Metropolitano Baena has already given the "yes," and Atlético is only waiting for the ideal moment to make it official the signing is a fact: one of the best young midfielders in LaLiga is changing airs Following news of the death of director Jeff Baena several actors who worked with him paid tribute Following news of that the director, husband of Aubrey Plaza Molly Shannon and more actors who worked with him paid homage on social media Her Life After Beth costar Dane DeHaan also paid tribute to Baena sharing a post about news of his death on his Instagram Stories Alison Brie who starred in several of the director's films posted several pics of herself with him on her own Instagram Stories adding a broken heart emoji and a link to a tribute post from Adam Pally who appeared with her in The Little Hours and Baena's 2016 film Joshy and also had a role in Life After Beth "Jeff Baena was a sweet, Jewish boy from Miami," he wrote on his Instagram Jan the scrappiest basketball player with the ugliest jump shot you ever saw." Pally called Baena a "talented director with impeccable taste and vision," adding You never worried that Jeff wasn't telling you the way it is Cause Jeff's virtue was telling you the way it was." Pally said his "heart breaks for my friend Aubrey and the Baena family and for all of us who spent time on his sets or at his house or in his orbit." He added Baena is also survived by mother Barbara Stern and stepfather Roger Stern dad Scott Baena and stepmother Michele Baena stepsister Bianca Gabay and stepbrother Jed Fluxman the director's manager said in a statement to E Look back at Baena and Plaza's love story.. A medical examiner’s report first obtained by TMZ noted that the couple had been living apart since September 2024 “She confirmed she had been separated from her husband Jeffrey Baena since September 2024,” the report reads Baena made concerning remarks to [Plaza] which prompted her to call a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband Baena had been attending therapy since that event.” An investigator quoted in the report said that Plaza spoke to her husband the night before he died He also sent her a text the morning of his death The report lists Baena’s official cause of death as suicide by hanging he was found suspended from a staircase near the entrance of the couple’s Los Angeles home but the medical examiner said a cellphone was found on the staircase The report also states that there was no alcohol or drugs in Baena’s system when he died News of Baena’s death broke a day after his death police said they believed his death to be self-inflicted The report says that Baena was found by his dog walker “She heard loud music from within the house “[The dog walker] unlocked the front door and discovered the decedent hanging from the staircase inside the entrance.” “She yelled at him and received no response,” it continues “[The dog walker] ran to retrieve the decedent’s dog and left the building to call 911.” Representatives for Plaza did not immediately return the Daily Beast’s request for comment Plaza made her first public appearance since Baena’s death She attended the star-studded Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary show Plaza interned for the series from 2004 to 2005 Plaza and Baena got married in 2021 after dating for more than a decade Details of their marriage—and why they were separated—are unknown The couple often collaborated together on Baena’s films—including Life After Beth (2014) Plaza revealed that the two had married in an Instagram post promoting Spin Me Round in 2022 “So proud of my darling husband @jeffbaena for dreaming up another film that takes us to italia to cause some more trouble 😈,” she wrote “excited to be reunited with the amazing @alisonbrie (who also co-wrote this one!) and @theofficialsuperstar @sordociego @lauren_weedman and so many more fun people in this Plaza and Baena largely kept their relationship private she hinted at the fact that their relationship was not always smooth-sailing “I’ve been with my husband for 12 years,” she said “I relate to being in a relationship that has peaks and valleys and going through a rough patch and comparing yourself to another couple that seems perfect.” If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988, or text SAVE to Crisis Text Line on 741741. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or for more information Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here. Following Baena's death, Plaza and the family of her late husband called his passing as an "unimaginable tragedy" Subscribe to BuzzFeed Daily NewsletterCaret DownAccording To A New Report Jeff Baena And Aubrey Plaza Quietly Separated Months Before His Suicide — But He Texted Her On The Day Of His DeathThe new coroner office’s report reveals that in the months before his death Jeff had been going to therapy after experiencing “marital difficulties” with Aubrey After referring to Jeff as her “darling husband” in an Instagram post, Aubrey shared on The Drew Barrymore Show “The marriage was just like a joke that honestly went too far Aubrey later quietly honored Jeff while attending Saturday Night Live’s 50th-anniversary special in mid-February, which marked her first public appearance since his death the report purportedly states that Aubrey received a text message from Jeff on the day of his death at 10:36 a.m Dial 988 in the United States to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org. The Trevor Project which provides help and suicide-prevention resources for LGBTQ youth Baena died from suicide in January at age 47 Husband of actor Aubrey Plaza was known for writing and directing Life After Beth and co-writing I Heart Huckabees Independent director and screenwriter Jeff Baena – who was known for quirky hits such as Life After Beth and was the husband of that film’s star, Aubrey Plaza – has died age 47 The Los Angeles medical examiner said that Baena died on Friday at his home in that city at about 10.39am local time and had taken his own life Baena’s The Little Hours – a dark comedy set in a 14th-century convent and released in 2017 – was among his best-known works Plaza and Baena had dated since about 2011 and in 2021 she revealed in a social media post that they had gotten married Variety noted that The Little Hours was somewhat inspired by Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron Baena had studied the medieval and Renaissance eras Plaza had also starred in Baena’s Life After Beth View image in fullscreenFrom left Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena attend a Life After Beth screening in New York in 2014 Photograph: Cindy Ord/Getty ImagesBaena had also co-written the 2004 comedy I Heart Huckabees with David O Russell The indie film explored existential woe with bleak humor and had a star-studded cast Hollywood actor and comedian Marc Maron wrote: “Very sad about the tragic loss of a true artist and sweet guy.” where Baena’s directorial debut Life After Beth premiered in 2014 wrote: “We extend our heartfelt thanks to Jeff Baena for sharing his stories and contributing to the lasting memories we’ve built together Baena, a Miami native, attended college at New York University. After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles for his film career, People reported stepmother Michele Baena and brother Brad Baena as well as step-siblings Bianca Gabay and Jed Fluxman who rose to fame in comedy series Parks And Recreation had been announced as a presenter at Sunday’s Golden Globes ceremony earlier this week before her husband’s death Jake Johnson honored his Joshy collaborator and friend with a bittersweet tribute Jake Johnson is remembering his late friend "I love you Jeff," Jake wrote in a Jan. 7 Instagram post the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse star also shared a series of images to commemorate Jeff who appeared alongside Jake in the 2015 movie Digging for Fire and directed him in 2016's Joshy Jeff looked pensive while sitting at a dining room table among friends as they played poker the Little Hours director cradled a baby in his arms while donning a warm smile According to Los Angeles medical examiner records viewed by E! News, Jeff died by suicide on Jan. 3 actor Adam Pally—who starred in Jeff's films Life After Beth The Little Hours and Joshy—highlighted his "impeccable taste and vision" as a director the guy who knows where the best restaurant was no matter where you were," Adam wrote on Instagram Jan "An overly gracious host with an almost disturbing open door policy As for Aubrey—who privately married Jeff in 2021 after a decade of dating—she issued a joint statement alongside his family "This is an unimaginable tragedy," read the statement from Plaza and the Baena/Stern family obtained by E "We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support." "Please respect our privacy during this time." For a look back on Jeff and Aubrey's relationship through the years Los Angeles medical examiner records confirm The Hollywood community has lost a beloved member Director Jeff Baena, the husband of actress Aubrey Plaza according to Los Angeles medical examiner records Additional details on Baena's death have not yet been confirmed by authorities Baena, a graduate of New York University's film school, frequently collaborated with Plaza. Indeed, he directed the 2014 film Life After Beth, which Plaza starred in. He also wrote and directed 2022's Spin Me Round, which Plaza appeared in alongside Alison Brie And although Plaza and Baena—who met in 2011—kept much of their relationship private she did share a few major updates over the years it was while working on Spin Me Round in May 2021 that Plaza confirmed they got married "So proud of my darling husband @jeffbaena," she wrote on Instagram at the time "for dreaming up another film that takes us to italia to cause some more trouble." And the couple's loved ones couldn't help but celebrate the milestone "Whoa!!!!" Plaza's Happiest Season co-star Mary Steenburgen commented "Just took in the word husband and I am sending you both love and congratulations and blessings!!!!!" “I think that when you’re with someone that is in your field, they understand what you’re dealing with on a deeper level," the Parks and Recreation actress told People in 2019 "So obviously you are able to support each other and really understand kind of the journey that we’re both on." “I think that one of the great things about our careers is that we are forced to be independent go off and do our things and come back," Plaza added You don’t want to spend too much time a part But I think that there’s a way that it can work and there’s a balance in that.” Keep reading for a look back on her and Baena's life together screenwriter and husband of actress and producer Aubrey Plaza was found dead at a Los Angeles residence on Friday The manner of death is listed as suicide on the medical examiner's death certificate Baena is best known for directing indie films including The Little Hours and for co-writing I Heart Huckabees with David O He frequently collaborated with actress and producer Aubrey Plaza The couple started dating in 2011 and got married in 2021 "This is an unimaginable tragedy," said a statement shared by publicist Jodi Gottlieb with NPR on behalf of Plaza and Baena's family "We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support." He graduated from New York University and worked for filmmakers Robert Zemeckis and David O lawyer and manager for confirmation of the death and comment including actress Alison Brie and filmmakers Jay and Mark Duplass No one had responded or posted on social media at the time of publication Of their collaboration on the 2020 comedy thriller Horse Girl, Brie told Paste Magazine about going on hikes and double dates with the filmmaker and he'd bring up certain types of characters that I should play," she said Become an NPR sponsor Plaza previously said in a statement to PEOPLE that Baena's death was "an unimaginable tragedy," and she was "grateful to everyone who has offered support" Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission Plaza explained that she and Baena got married in tie-dye jammies “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 told Barrymore in 2021 call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York Jeff Baena and Aubrey Plaza had been separated for several months prior to Baena’s suicide death according to a report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner Baena and Plaza had been separated since September 2024 The 47-year-old was discovered in his home by an assistant on Jan according to law enforcement sources who spoke to ABC News at the time The county medical examiner confirmed that Baena died by suicide Plaza and Baena’s family released a statement and called it “an unimaginable tragedy.” “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support,” the statement said “Please respect our privacy during this time.” Baena was best known for directing the horror-comedy Life After Beth the dark comedy Joshy and for co-writing the cult classic I Heart Huckabees with filmmaker David O He and Plaza had been married since 2021 and frequently worked together on projects with Plaza starring in several of Baena’s films Good Morning America has reached out to Plaza’s reps for comment please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741 and the flagship stations for the Baltimore Ravens Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs which means we may get paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites.©2023 on behalf of WBAL NewsRadio 1090 and FM 101.5 After Aubrey Plaza's husband Jeff Baena died in January a medical examiner's report revealed the couple had been separated since September Look back at what they'd shared about their relationship It’s also how the duo kept many details of their love story during their time together While it’s unclear when exactly the pair met—only that it was over a game of Balderdash, per a 2022 GQ profile—they began dating in 2011 Baena made his directorial debut with Life After Beth which starred Plaza (who by then was playing intern April Ludgate on the sitcom Parks and Recreation) He went on to write and direct 2016’s Joshy and 2017’s The Little Hours “I have worked with Jeff on all of his movies,” Plaza said in a 2017 interview with SIFFcast about what called to her about The Little Hours they teamed up for Cinema Toast—a show Baena created and Plaza directed during the COVID-19 pandemic that was released in 2021 but we were sifting through hours of old movies and footage and re-cutting them together and just letting our minds go on a trip “Yes, we got married,” Plaza said on a December 2021 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show “He almost missed the wedding ‘cause he had to wait so long for the order." I decided that Jeff and I were going to wear tie-dye pajamas that he had made for us.” As they embarked on their journey as newlyweds, Plaza and Baena navigated being both work and life partners.“It’s so great. It’s so complicated,” she told Drew Barrymore about the pair’s collaboration on films and TV shows “It’s extreme highs and extreme complications We just muscle our way through it.”And the Ingrid Goes North star acknowledged married life isn’t always easy "We’ve had really good experiences and really bad experiences and I think I learned going through those things that ultimately movies come and go Movies—it’s what our lives are built off of You think about the people in our life and your relationships I think that’s what most people think about before they die." And during their time together, Baena had expressed how he was grateful to have Plaza as his costar in life.“She’s awesome,” the I Heart Huckabees writer said in an August 2022 interview with Reel Talker “I’d be working with her if she wasn’t my wife We were together for three years before we made Life After Beth together I think having that sort of shorthand and that sort of connection “The opportunities to create together and do something creative where we’re both fulfilled To see photos from their relationship over the years Aubrey Plaza’s husband Jeff Baena was remembered by his family for his love of filmmaking and devotion to his inner circle following his tragic death Jan Jeff Baena is being remembered by those who knew him best After the filmmaker, who was married to The White Lotus star Aubrey Plaza his loved ones detailed his passion for writing and directing movies describing his work as “testimony to his keen intellect.” “Each of his films reflects a carefully crafted balance of the logical and the implausible,” his family wrote in an obituary originally published by the Miami Herald Jan “His juxtaposition of intellect and creativity challenged us He embraced independent filmmaking because of his unalterable distaste for institutional guardrails on creativity.” Outside of his work—which included films like I Heart Huckabees Life After Beth and The Little Hours—Baena was also remembered as “a true relationship builder with a gift for bringing people together,” as his family noted he often organized gatherings for his inner circle “His magic sauce was ensuring everyone was having fun,” the obituary read “and no one ever left his get-togethers as a stranger.” Baena’s family also shared his fondness for The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry referencing the beloved children’s book in a heartbreaking sendoff “We shall always love and deeply miss Jeff,” the obituary concluded “This is an unimaginable tragedy,” they said in the statement obtained by E! News Jan Keep reading for a closer look at Jeff Baena and Aubrey Plaza's love story.. While Jeff Baena and Aubrey Plaza separated months before his untimely death the White Lotus star told authorities she received a text from her estranged husband three hours before he was found dead Content warning: This story discusses suicide Jeff Baena was in contact with his estranged wife Aubrey Plaza right to the end While the couple quietly separated in September after three years of marriage, the Parks and Recreation alum told authorities she received a text message from Baena just three hours before he was found dead by suicide in his Los Angeles home Jan according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report obtained by E Police also said in the docs that the pair spoke over the phone the night before Baena’s death told investigators that the film director “made concerning remarks” one month after their breakup leading the actress—who moved to New York at the time of the separation—to ask a friend to perform a welfare check on him began attending therapy following the incident the Horse Girl director’s body was found by his dog walker who arrived as scheduled The dog walker reported hearing loud music coming from the house which she described as “unusual,” and discovered the body upon entering the home News reached out to a rep for Plaza for comment but has not heard back Days after Baena’s passing, Plaza—who began dating the filmmaker in 2011—released a joint statement with his family to E News calling his death “an unimaginable tragedy.” “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support,” the statement continued “Please respect our privacy during this time.” Baena’s family later honored his life and work in a heartfelt obituary writing that his films reflected “a carefully crafted balance of the logical and the implausible.” “His juxtaposition of intellect and creativity challenged us,” they wrote in the tribute originally published by the Miami Herald in January “He embraced independent filmmaking because of his unalterable distaste for institutional guardrails on creativity.” The memorial also characterized him as “a true relationship builder with a gift for bringing people together,” noting that “no one ever left his get-togethers as a stranger.” For a look back at Plaza and Baena's relationship Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission Months before Aubrey Plaza’s husband, Jeff Baena, died by suicide, the couple had reportedly separated. According to a coroner’s report obtained by People Plaza and Baena had been experiencing “recent marital difficulties” that prompted their separation in September 2024 Baena made “concerning remarks” to Plaza in October who then asked a friend to “perform a welfare check on her husband.” Baena allegedly started going to therapy after the welfare check two months before he was found dead at the age of 47 Compiled by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner coroner the report also noted that Plaza received a final text from Baena at 10:36 a.m His body was reportedly discovered by his dog walker and law enforcement later ruled the death a suicide Baena, an indie filmmaker who often collaborated with Plaza, first began dating Plaza in 2011, and they married in May 2021. In a statement released in January Plaza and Baena’s family called the loss an “unimaginable tragedy.” By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us Michelle is a Newsweek editor based in the New York metro area Her focus is reporting on celebrity and entertainment news She has in-depth knowledge of pop music and fandom Michelle joined Newsweek in 2024 after editorial positions at Us Weekly She is a cum laude graduate of Drew University You can get in touch with Michelle by emailing mmcgahan@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena had been separated for months at the time of his death The writer-director, who dated Plaza for 10 years before they wed in 2021, died by suicide on January 3 contained several key pieces of new information — including Plaza and Baena's marital status The documents also noted that Baena had been "experiencing recent marital difficulties" with Plaza Baena's comments "prompted her to call a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband." The Life After Beth director then began attending therapy Plaza received her final text message from Baena on the morning of his death which also noted Baena's body was found at his Los Angeles residence by his dog walker The Parks and Recreation alum subtly paid tribute to Baena during her onstage appearance at SNL 50: The Anniversary Special in February Plaza wore a tie-dye shirt — a nod to their 2021 wedding during which they wore tie-dye sleepwear to tie the knot "Jeff got really into tie-dyeing during the quarantine I decided that Jeff and I were going to wear tie-dye pajamas that he had made for us," Plaza said on a 2021 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article Newsletters in your inbox See all The couple had been together since 2011 and were married in 2020 Aubrey Plaza had separated from husband Jeff Baena in the months before his death The Los Angeles medical examiner’s report revealed the couple had been separated since September 2024 “According to the reported information, the decedent Jeffrey Baena is a 47-year-old Caucasian male,” the medical examiner wrote in a report obtained by Us Weekly “He was experiencing recent marital difficulties and was separated from his wife since September 2024.” Plaza checked on Baena in October after he “made concerning remarks which prompted her to call a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband,” the report said “Baena had been attending therapy since that event According to (an unnamed person) Baena did not have any previous suicide attempts The report also stated Plaza “last knew her husband to be alive when he sent her a text message” on the morning of January 3 the day he was found by his dog walker in his Los Angeles No drugs were found in Baena’s system and he did not leave a note “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time,” read a joint statement from Plaza and the Baena / Stern family shared with The Independent at the time of his death Plaza, 40, was seen publicly for the first time weeks after Baena’s death when she attended the SNL 50 celebration. Sporting a black blazer with a tie-dye shirt underneath, many interpreted the look as a tribute to her late husband The Parks and Recreation star previously shared that she and Baena wore tie-dye pajamas they made during the pandemic Literally decided at around 5pm and got married at 8:30,” she explained at the time I decided that Jeff and I were going to wear tie-dye pajamas that he had made for us I made a love altar in the backyard of all of our love objects Filmmaker Baena was known for Life After Beth (2014) andThe Little Hours (2017), both of which featured Plaza. Baena also worked on the Netflix film Horse Girl (2020) If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies confirmed his nephew Vicente died in a heartbreaking message detailing “the most difficult and confusing week” for his family Arnold Schwarzenegger's son whose mom is the Terminator star’s former housekeeper Mildred Baena expressed his grief over the recent death of his nephew Vicente "It’s been a week since my nephew, Vicente, left us," Joseph, 27, wrote in the caption of a March 26 Instagram post featuring a series of photos with his nephew including at Dancing With the Stars and at Vicente’s high school graduation "It’s been the most difficult and confusing week of my family’s life." "All I can think about is what a kind caring and smart kid he is and how much we all love him We miss him so much and still can’t believe this is all real." who is the half-brother of Arnold's other children Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt with ex-wife Maria Schriver—went on to detail the complicated emotions that arise after losing a loved one so suddenly confused and sad for this tragic event," Joseph—who also has an older sister on his mom's side "But I also think about how we never truly know what weight a person carries or what battles they struggle with." The 27-year-old went on to share a message of support for followers going through a challenging time "As I mourn with my family I pray that all of you that are struggling may find the strength to be kind to yourself,” Joseph said To know that even if you may not feel it right now He ended his post by directly addressing his late nephew several members of the Dancing With the Stars family shared their support—including his fellow season 31 contestants Selma Blair and Shangela “I am so sorry to hear this,” the Cruel Intentions actress wrote in the comments I’ll be praying for u and all your family Joe Joseph’s girlfriend Mel Randel also shared a message mourning Vicente while also reflecting on the memories she and Joseph shared with him "It's been a week since Joe's nephew Vicente passed away," the Dutch model wrote on her Instagram Story "He just graduated high school." We miss him and we miss the memories we'll never get to make with him We will carry his spirit with us forever." The Brutalist director Brady Corbet said during his 2025 Golden Globes acceptance speech that his heart was with Aubrey Plaza in the wake of her filmmaker husband Jeff Baena's sudden death Brady Corbet used his winning moment in the spotlight to remember what the film community just lost so tragically And his speech—which he read from his phone to ensure he didn't miss a word--was already a tear-jerker long before he got to his devastating coda In addition to thanking his "beautiful cast," including Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama, nominee Adrien Brody (who later won the honor) his "extraordinary producers," a crew who "I also hope will have me back," and friends "who have supported us through thick and thin," he shouted out his "creative partner and muse" Mona Fastvold and "incomparable mother" Mary Corbet." Corbet directed all eyes toward daughter Ada "who looks so stunning in that dress of hers tonight," he said "that I'm thinking that this fiasco I got us all into may have very well been worth it." gushing happy tears and dolled up in layers of princess-worthy "I’d like to thank the opportunity to acknowledge  three people that I lost while making this picture: My grandfather I wouldn’t be standing here tonight if it were not for their influence." "tonight my heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s family who was previously scheduled to present at the Jan acted in a number of her late husband's films including Life After Beth and The Little Hours She confirmed in May 2021 that they'd married after a decade together See all of the winners from the 2025 Golden Globes: Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Best Miniseries or Motion Picture—Television Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture—Television Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Best Actor in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy Best Actress in a Television Series—Musical or Comedy Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture—Television Best Actor in a Television Series—Musical or Comedy “Beautiful That Way," The Last Showgirl  Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement—Motion Picture Los Angeles officials have released more details about the death of director Jeff Baena Baena was found dead at a residence in the city Jan a graduate of New York University's film school who starred in his films Life After Beth—his 2014 directorial debut Baena was also known for cowriting the 2004 comedy I Heart Huckabees with director David O Baena and Plaza, 40, met in 2011 and married in 2020, with the White Lotus actress confirming the following year while they were working on the movie Spin Me Round "So proud of my darling husband @jeffbaena," Plaza wrote on Instagram in May 2021 the actress revealed that the two tied the knot in the backyard of their Los Angeles home after she called and ordered an officiant from a same-day marriage license service "We got married and I'll tell you how— 1hourmarriage.com," she told Ellen DeGeneres on a December 2021 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show 'Hey it's our 10-year anniversary get an ice cream cone and do something special.' And then I joked about getting married and he's like we probably couldn't get married that fast.' And I said wouldn't it be nice to get married on our actual anniversary?'" Baena is survived by mom Barbara Stern and stepfather Roger Stern dad Scott Baena and stepmother Michele Baena stepsister Bianca Gabay and stepbrother Jed Fluxman Look back at Plaza and Baena's love story.. Jeff and Aubrey were experiencing “marital difficulties" in the months before his passing, according to a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report released in March 2025. In the report, obtained by E! News, police said Aubrey confirmed that the two separated in September 2024 when she moved to New York. However, Aubrey told investigators she and Jeff remained in contact after the split, according to the report. Officials said the pair spoke on the phone the night before Jeff’s death, while Aubrey told police he sent her a text message three hours before he was found dead.  Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and ​celebrity gossip. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows! © 2025 E! Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. All rights reserved. Subscribe to BuzzFeed Daily NewsletterCaret DownAubrey Plaza Paid Seriously Poignant Tribute To Her Late Husband Jeff Baena As She Made Her First Public Appearance Since His Tragic DeathAubrey was sure to honor her husband as she briefly returned to the spotlight after his death on Jan Aubrey and Jeff first started dating in 2011, and in 2021, Aubrey revealed that they had secretly gotten married when she referred to Jeff as her “darling husband” in an Instagram post “The marriage was just like a joke that honestly went too far,” Aubrey explained during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show later that same year Aubrey had been booked to present at the 2025 Golden Globes on Jan but understandably bowed out of this commitment Aubrey briefly appeared on stage to introduce Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard’s musical performance a cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U," which was made famous by Sinéad O'Connor the TV favorite simply said: “Ladies and gentleman Aubrey Plaza makes a surprise appearance at #SNL50 to introduce musical guests Miley Cyrus & Brittany Howard. pic.twitter.com/G6uB3oA297 “Jeff got really into tie-dying during the [COVID-19] quarantine,” Aubrey told the host at the time “So I decided that Jeff and I were going to wear tie-dye pajamas that he had made for us.” She added that she accessorized her outfit with a “rosemary crown,” sharing: “I made a love altar in the backyard of all our love objects [and] it was very witch-core.” incredibly likely that Aubrey's decision to wear tie-dye last night was a heartfelt tribute to her late husband