Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing
Aubrey Plaza and the rest of Jeff Baena’s family have addressed the ‘unimaginable tragedy’ following his death by suicide last week.
Screenwriter and film director Jeff Baena was found having passed away at his home in Los Angeles on January 3.
The 47-year-old was discovered by an assistant who immediately called emergency services, officers later pronouncing him dead at the scene.
Los Angeles Fire Department told the Mail Online in a statement: “Death was determined for an approximately 47-year old male, no transport.”
Los Angeles Police Department added: “We responded to the 2100 block of Fern Dale Place for a death investigation. Officers responded for a male decedent.”
On January 4 a county medical examiner confirmed Baena died by suicide and his family – including actor and partner Aubrey Plaza – have since addressed his passing.
Plaza and the Baena/ Stern family shared a joint statement with The Independent which reads: “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support.
“Please respect our privacy during this time.”
Plaza and Baena began dating in 2011 before tying the knot a decade later in 2021, the Parks and Recreation star telling Ellen DeGeneres that year the pair ‘got a little bored one night’ during the coronavirus lockdown and decided to get married using a ‘one-hour marriage’ site.
Plaza said: “I just said, ‘Hey, it’s our 10-year anniversary. We should do something, get an ice cream cone and do something special.
She continued: “And then I joked about getting married, and he was like, ‘Well, we probably couldn’t get married that fast. And I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to get married on our actual anniversary?’ And then I Googled it and I found onehourmarriage.com.”
Plaza and Baena worked on multiple projects together, Plaza appearing in Baena’s most recent film Spin Me Round (2022).
At the Golden Globes on Sunday, Brady Corbet – director of The Brutalist – mentioned Plaza and Baena while accepting his award.
He said: “Tonight, my heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s family.”
LADbible Group has contacted Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena’s representatives for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.
