Aubrey Plaza Comforted By Co-Star On First Red Carpet Since Spouse's Death

Aubrey Plaza returned to the public eye on Friday, making an emotional appearance at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, marking her first red carpet since the tragic death of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena.

In March, it was revealed that Plaza and Baena had quietly separated four months prior to his death.

According to a report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, the pair had split in September 2024, and Aubrey Plaza was living in New York when Baena’s body was discovered at his Los Angeles home.

Two months after the tragic death of Baena, Plaza made a grand return to the red carpet.

The "White Lotus" star stunned in a sheer nude beaded gown as she attended the French premiere of her latest film, "Honey Don’t!," a dark comedy directed by Ethan Coen. In the film, Margaret Qualley plays Honey O’Donahue, a small-town private investigator drawn into a mysterious series of deaths, while Plaza stars as a police officer working alongside her.

The movie is set to hit theaters on August 22.

Plaza was joined at the premiere by co-stars Qualley, Charlie Day, Talia Ryder, Lera Abova, as well as Coen and co-writer Tricia Cooke.

In one touching moment, captured on video from the event, Qualley was seen quickly moving to Plaza’s side, offering comfort as the two posed for photographers. Plaza also sparked curiosity at one point with a seemingly surprised expression, glancing off-camera, though it’s unclear what prompted the moment.

While the Cannes event marks Aubrey Plaza’s first official red carpet appearance since the death of her husband, it wasn't her first time in the spotlight.

The actress previously appeared at the "Saturday Night Live 50th" anniversary special and was spotted out in Los Angeles in late March.

Days later, Plaza was photographed stepping out solo, accompanied by her beloved rescue dog, Frankie.

All of this comes just weeks after Baena’s suicide in January at the age of 47.

The autopsy report revealed that Baena had been “experiencing marital difficulties” and had been attending therapy in the months leading up to his death. It also noted that Plaza, whose name was redacted in the final documents, had spoken to Baena the night before he died and had previously arranged a welfare check in October 2024 after he made concerning remarks.

Tragically, the "White Lotus" actress received a final text from him on the morning of January 3, just before he was found by a dog walker who entered the home after hearing loud music, an unusual occurrence that raised alarm.

There were no drugs or alcohol found in Baena’s system at the time of his death.

Plaza and Baena began dating in 2011, bonding over their mutual love of cinema, a shared passion that led to both creative and romantic collaborations.

Shortly after news broke of Baena’s tragic passing, a representative for Plaza released a heartfelt statement on behalf of the actress, marking her first public acknowledgment of her husband’s death.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time,” the rep shared in a statement obtained by the Daily Mail.

The devastating news came just ahead of the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, where Plaza had been scheduled to present. The "Agatha All Along" star ultimately did not attend the ceremony, understandably stepping back from public appearances amid the loss.

During the Golden Globes, "The Brutalist" director Brady Corbet took a moment to honor Plaza while accepting the Best Director award, telling the audience, “Finally, tonight, my heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s family. Good night.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free and confidential support, 24/7.