Aubrey Plaza’s Poised Return: First Red Carpet Since Husband’s Passing
Supposedly, nothing screams “I’m mourning” like a glittering red carpet and a killer pair of heels. Aubrey Plaza made headlines this week as she attended the premiere of her new indie dramedy at the Toronto International Film Festival—her first public outing since the reported death of husband Jeff Baena in March. Sources from People Magazine confirm that Plaza arrived at Roy Thomson Hall on Wednesday evening looking every bit the deadpan icon we know: a sleek black chiffon gown paired with custom Christian Louboutin pumps and not a tear in sight (or at least none that reached her mascara).
The event drew a respectful hush when Plaza stepped onstage for a brief Q&A. “I figured if he’s anywhere, it’s in the aisle seats,” she deadpanned, according to an eyewitness account in the Daily Mail. Ironically, her quip about shopping for popcorn in Jeff’s honor earned genuine laughter—proof that the world will crack a smile when given the chance, even in tragedy. Plaza’s stylist, Peter Soronen, told People Magazine that Aubrey requested “comfort first, statement second,” a guideline we’d salute if we could imagine crying in heels.
Between hits of sarcasm and perfectly timed pauses, Plaza revealed that her late husband had been instrumental in shaping the film’s final edit. “He’d nitpick my timing like he was auditioning for a role as my conscience,” she joked, mere minutes before the editors’ credit scrolled onscreen. Production notes later shared by Variety underline Baena’s contributions: he restructured two pivotal scenes and suggested the now-iconic close-up on Plaza’s raised eyebrow. So yes, she’s grieving—but she’s also meticulously preserving his creative legacy.
Social media erupted almost immediately. Fans flooded the comments with “Stay strong, Aubrey” and “He’d be so proud,” while a handful of trolls pointed out that walking on a red carpet cannot substitute for therapy. Harsh, internet—harsh. Plaza’s publicist stepped in to clarify that the actress will be taking time off after TIFF, but she “wanted to honor Jeff’s memory by keeping things moving.” Next up for Plaza: a Paris shoot for an upcoming Wes Anderson cameo and a voice role in an animated feature billed as “darkly absurd, much like its star.”
Let’s pretend we learned something today—mourning protocols apparently include designer labels and punchlines. Tune in next time for more questionable life choices and emotional rebounds.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Daily Mail, Variety
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
