Aubrey Plaza Returns to the Spotlight at SNL 50th Anniversary

Aubrey Plaza, a well-known actress, made her first public appearance since her husband, Jeff Baena, passed away. This happened at the "SNL 50" anniversary special, which was a big celebration for the show's 50 years on air. The event took place on February 16th, and it was a three-hour special. Plaza was one of the many celebrities who attended this star-studded event. Plaza's husband, Jeff Baena, was a talented writer and director. He had a big break in 2004 when he co-wrote the screenplay for "I Heart Huckabees" with David O. Russell. Plaza and Baena started dating in 2011 and worked together on several projects. One of their notable collaborations was the zombie comedy "Life After Beth, " where Plaza starred in Baena's directorial debut. The film was even nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The couple got married in 2021 but kept their relationship private. Fans only found out about their marriage when Plaza referred to Baena as "my darling husband" on social media. Plaza later revealed on "The Drew Barrymore Show" that their marriage was a spontaneous decision. "The marriage was just like a joke that honestly went too far, " she said. "We got married on a whim. Literally decided at around 5 p. m. and got married at 8:30. " Baena's passing was a shock to everyone. Plaza broke her silence three days after his death with a statement from the couple's family. "This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time, " the statement read. Plaza was originally scheduled to present at the 2025 Golden Globes but had to withdraw after Baena's passing. During the ceremony, Brady Corbet sent love to Plaza while accepting his best director award for "The Brutalist. " "Tonight my heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s family, " Corbet said. Plaza has stayed under the radar since Baena’s death, but she made a comeback at the "SNL 50" anniversary special. The event was a massive production with about 450 people in the studio, including many celebrities and their friends and family. Longtime production designer Keith Raywood shared insights about the special, highlighting the unique challenges and excitement of putting together such a large-scale event.