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Aubrey Plaza Breaks Her Silence Following Husband Jeff Baena's Death: "Unimaginable Tragedy"
Jake Johnson is remembering his late friend.
Four days after Jeff Baena, husband of Aubrey Plaza, died by suicide at age 47, the New Girl alum honored the director with a touching tribute.
"I love you Jeff," Jake wrote in a Jan. 7 Instagram post. "Hate your last move. But still love you."
Alongside the heartbreaking message, 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. In one of the snaps, Jeff looked pensive while sitting at a dining room table among friends as they played poker. In a second pic, 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.
In wake of the tragedy, several of the screenwriter's collaborators and friends have honored him with touching tributes, including Molly Shannon, Brady Corbet, Dane DeHaan and Alison Brie.
Additionally, 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.
"He was a connector of people, a fosterer of possibility, the guy who knows where the best restaurant was no matter where you were," Adam wrote on Instagram Jan. 5. "An overly gracious host with an almost disturbing open door policy, a film encyclopedia, and most important to me a friend."
Photo by Andrew Toth/FilmMagic / Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for Sundance NEXT
As for Aubrey—who privately married Jeff in 2021 after a decade of dating—she issued a joint statement alongside his family, which includes mom Barbara Stern, stepfather Roger Stern, father Scott Baena and stepmother Michele Baena.
"This is an unimaginable tragedy," read the statement from Plaza and the Baena/Stern family obtained by E! News Jan. 6. "We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support."
They added, "Please respect our privacy during this time."
For a look back on Jeff and Aubrey's relationship through the years, keep reading.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for GREY GOOSE
2011: Start Dating
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, they bonded over movies.
“We’re so obsessed with movies,” she told Page Six in 2017. “That’s why we’re making movies together.”
Photo by Chad Hurst/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival
2014: Collaborate on Life After Beth
It wasn’t until three years into their relationship that they made their first movie together, Life After Beth, which marked Jeff’s directorial debut.
Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival
2019: A Rare Romance Update
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. “But, you know, 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."
Aubrey Plaza/Instagram
2021: Aubrey Confirms Marriage
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, Spin Me Round.
“So proud of my darling husband @jeffbaena for dreaming up another film that takes us to italia to cause some more trouble,” she wrote that May. “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. Preparati!!”
Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
2022: Jeff Shares Insight Why He and Aubrey Work So Well Together
After making several movies with his wife, Jeff made it clear that he’s not just her husband or director, he’s her No. 1 fan.
“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. How rare is that?”
Robin Marchant/Getty Images
2022: Their Final Film Together
Three years before Jeff's sudden death at age 47, he and Aubrey worked on their fourth and final film together, Spin Me Round. During their 14 years together, they also made The Little Hours and she appeared in his 2016 film Joshy.
If you or someone you know needs help, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
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