Aubrey Plaza‘s first public appearance at the SNL50: The Anniversary Special on Feb. 16 might have been the hardest thing she’s ever had to do in her career. The 40-year-old actress has kept a low profile since her husband, Jeff Baena, died by suicide on Jan. 3 at the age of 47. So, Sunday’s cameo at the celebratory show probably wasn’t easy, but Plaza found a sweet way to honor him.
The Parks and Recreation star introduced Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard’s musical segment which was a tribute to the late Sinéad O’Connor with her song, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Plaza wore a black blazer with a tie-dye shirt underneath, an item that was meaningful to both of them on their wedding day just four years ago.
“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,” Plaza shared on The Drew Barrymore Show in Dec. 2021. The duo dated for 10 years before tying the knot in May 2021. Fans learned about their nuptials when she referred to Baena as her “darling husband” in a now-deleted Instagram post.
The actress and the director/writer enjoyed collaborating on films, and together, they worked on four projects: Life After Beth (2014), Joshy (2016), The Little Hours (2017), and Spin Me Round (2022). “I’d say it’s an amazing experience to work with your partner in this way. I’ve worked with Jeff since his first movie,” Plaza gushed to MovieFreak in 2017. “I’ve seen him evolve and I’ve seen him grow. It’s a really special dynamic that we have. It’s challenging at times but it’s also really rewarding to do something together like this.”
The loss of her husband impacted Plaza deeply and she asked her fans for space while she mourned Baena. “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time,” she said in a statement to People on Jan. 6. Plaza also deleted her social media accounts while she grieved.
Plaza made her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live on Jan. 21, 2023. Understandably, she chose to skip the red carpet at the 50th anniversary special on Sunday.
Before you go, click here to see all the celebrity couples who met on set.
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