The Parks and Recreation star attends the premiere of Honey Don’t—her first major public appearance since the death of husband Jeff Baena—honoring his memory with quiet strength and grace.
Aubrey Plaza made a solemn yet stunning return to the spotlight at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on Friday, walking the red carpet for the premiere of Honey Don’t, nearly five months after the heartbreaking loss of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena.
The actress, 40, appeared alongside co-stars Margaret Qualley and Charlie Day to promote the new detective comedy by acclaimed duo Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke. Plaza radiated understated elegance in a sheer cream-colored gown with delicate bead embellishments layered over a corset and matching undergarments—a look that was as quietly powerful as her presence on the carpet.
This marked Plaza’s first major public event since Baena, 47, was pronounced dead at the couple’s Los Angeles home on January 3. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner confirmed that the writer-director died by suicide. The two had begun their relationship in 2011 and were married in 2021, sharing both a personal and creative partnership that spanned over a decade. Plaza starred in Baena’s 2014 directorial debut, Life After Beth, a dark comedy he also wrote.
In a heartfelt statement following his death, Plaza expressed the depth of her grief:
“This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”
The couple were reportedly separated at the time of his passing, according to the autopsy report.
Despite the emotional weight of her return, Plaza’s appearance at Cannes was a testament to resilience. Her quiet strength hasn’t gone unnoticed—fans previously praised her subtle tribute to Baena during her recent Saturday Night Live appearance, where she wore a necklace that many believe honored his memory.
Honey Don’t, which earned a six-and-a-half-minute standing ovation at its Cannes debut, follows Qualley’s character—a sharp-witted lesbian detective—on a mission to expose a corrupt preacher played by Chris Evans. The film is set to release in U.S. theaters on August 22.
With the world watching, Aubrey Plaza stepped forward not only as a performer but as a woman navigating immense personal loss, reminding us all of the courage it takes to move forward while still holding space for grief.
