Additional Coverage:
Actress Aubrey Plaza recently opened up about the loss of her husband, writer-director Jeff Baena, in a candid conversation with Amy Poehler on Poehler’s podcast, “Good Hang.” This marks Plaza’s first in-depth public discussion of Baena’s death by suicide in January.
Speaking with her former “Parks and Recreation” co-star, Plaza described her grief as a “giant ocean of just awfulness.” She shared the conflicting feelings of wanting to immerse herself in the grief, simply observe it, or try to escape it, acknowledging its constant presence. The actress even likened her experience to a scene from the horror film “The Gorge,” describing a chasm filled with monsters as a visual representation of her emotional state.
Plaza and Baena, who married in 2021, collaborated on several films, including “Life After Beth.” While Plaza has made brief public statements since his passing, referring to it as “an unimaginable tragedy,” this podcast appearance offered a deeper look into her grieving process.
Poehler addressed Baena’s death directly, asking Plaza how she was feeling. Plaza responded that she felt happy to be with Poehler in that moment and grateful to be “moving through the world,” while acknowledging the ongoing daily struggle.
The interview comes as Plaza promotes her new film, “Honey Don’t,” and follows a period of significant professional success, including acclaim for her role in “The White Lotus” and recognition on Time magazine’s 100 most influential people list.
If you or someone you know needs help, dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.