Aubrey Plaza receives assist from Hollywood as emotional Adrien Brody reacts to Golden Globes tribute following the tragic loss of life of her husband Jeff Baena
Aubrey Plaza was shown support from Hollywood at Sunday’s Golden Globes Awards, which took place just days after the tragic death of her husband Jeff Baena.
The White Lotus star was due to present an award at the Beverly Hilton ceremony but was understandably absent.
Plaza, 40, was revealed as a presenter by the show in a news release Friday – the same day Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s officials confirmed Baena, 47, was found dead at a home in Los Angeles, ruling it a suicide by hanging.
It was ‘unclear which one or who filled in for’ Plaza at the ceremony as she withdrew from attending amid the family tragedy, TMZ reported Sunday.
While Plaza was not present for the show Sunday, The Brutalist director Brady Corbet, 36, named her and Baena after winning for Best Director, in a tribute which elicited an emotional reaction from Adrien Brody.
‘Finally, tonight my heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s family – good night,’ Corbet said, as the cameras panned on an emotional Adrien Brody, 51, in the audience, as The Brutalist leading man held back tears.
Aubrey Plaza was shown support from Hollywood at Sunday’s Golden Globes Awards, which took place just days after the tragic death of her husband Jeff Baena
An emotional Adrien Brody, 51, held back tears in the audience during the filmmaker’s speech
The mention of Baena came after Corbet spoke about other key figures in his life and career who have died in recent years, including producer Kevin Turen, who died at the age of 44 in November of 2023.
While Baena had not received any Golden Globe nominations in his career, he did nab a pair of nods for the Grand Jury Prize for two of his films at the Sundance Film Festival. They included Joshy in 2016 and Life After Beth in 2014.
Plaza’s potential attendance at the show, nicknamed ‘Hollywood’s Party of the Year,’ was a hot topic among users on X/Twitter, many of whom said it was clear the actress did not need to be in the limelight two days after her husband’s death.
‘Move the f*** out because what do you mean you still expect aubrey plaza to present on the golden globes,’ said one user. ‘Y’all need to chill and let her grieve, not perform.’
One user said, ‘Can we stop acting like Aubrey Plaza owes us a Golden Globes appearance? She’s grieving. Let her be,’ while another said that ‘people need to respect her choices.’
In response to a user suggesting she should attend as a show of personal strength, another user responded, ‘She lost her life partner of FOURTEEN years just a few hours ago, she doesn’t need to show up to be viewed as “strong”, she’s grieving and needs to be vulnerable or wherever she chooses to grief, not to prove anything to you, damn stupid a******.’
Plaza was flooded with condolences following her spouse’s passing, as colleagues such as Julia Fox and Selma Blair have been among the people to offer the actress-producer, 40, comforting words in the wake of the family tragedy.
Baena was found dead Friday morning at a Los Angeles home, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, with his death being ruled ruled a suicide by hanging.
The Brutalist director Brady Corbet named Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena amid tragedy after winning for Best Director earlier in the evening
Aubrey, 40, understandably did not attend the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards Sunday – where she was slated to be a presenter – days after the tragic death by suicide of her spouse Jeff Baena at 47. Pictured last month in NYC
‘No words can touch this painful time,’ Blair, 52, said in an Instagram comment thread adjacent to Plaza’s most recent post December 24.
Fox, 34, wrote in the thread, ‘Sending you so much love’ with an emoji of a dove.
Actress Alison Brie, 42, shared a series of images of Baena on her Instagram Stories, adding an emoji of a broken heart.
She also reposted a statement from actor-comedian Adam Pally, 42, a friend and collaborator of Baena’s who lauded him on a personal and professional level.
‘He was a collaborator, a mentor, the scrappiest basketball player with the ugliest jump shot you ever saw,’ said Pally. ‘He was a talented director with impeccable taste and vision, he was a connector of people, a fosterer of possibility, the guy who knows where the best restaurant was no matter where you were.
‘An overly gracious host with an almost disturbing open door policy, a film encyclopedia, and most importantly to me a friend.’
Pally wrapped up in saying, ‘My heart breaks for my friend Aubrey and the Baena family and for all of us who spent time on his sets or at his house or in or in his orbit. Thanks for believing in me Jeff, may your memory be a blessing.’
GOLDEN GLOBES 2025 WINNERS
FILM
Best Film – Drama
The Brutalist – WINNER
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nickel Boys
September 5
Best Film – Musical or Comedy
Anora
Challengers
Emilia Pérez – WINNER
A Real Pain
The Substance
Wicked
Emilia Perez earned top honor Best Film – Musical or Comedy
Best Non-English Language Film
All We Imagine as Light
Emilia Pérez – WINNER
The Girl with the Needle
I’m Still Here
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Vermiglio
Best Animated Film
Flow – WINNER
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Moana 2
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Cinematic And Box Office Achievement
Alien: Romulus
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Deadpool & Wolverine
Gladiator II
Inside Out 2
Twisters
Wicked – WINNER
The Wild Robot
Best Actress – Drama
Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl
Angelina Jolie, Maria
Nicole Kidman, Babygirl
Tilda Swinton, The Room Next Door
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here – WINNER
Kate Winslet, Lee
Best Actor – Drama
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist – WINNER
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Daniel Craig, Queer
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
Adrien Brody was recognized in the Best Actor – Drama category for The Brutalist
Best Actress – Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams, Nightbitch
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance – WINNER
Zendaya, Challengers
Best Actor – Musical or Comedy
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Hugh Grant, Heretic
Gabriel LaBelle, Saturday Night
Jesse Plemons, Kinds of Kindness
Glen Powell, Hit Man
Sebastian Stan, A Different Man – WINNER
Best Supporting Actress – Musical or Comedy
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Margaret Qualley, The Substance
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez – WINNER
Zoe Saldana was crowned Best Supporting Actress – Musical or Comedy for Emilia Perez
Best supporting Actor – Musical or Comedy
Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain – WINNER
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
Denzel Washington, Gladiator II
Best director
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
Sean Baker, Anora
Edward Berger, Conclave
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist – WINNER
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine as Light
Best screenplay
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
Peter Straughan, Conclave – WINNER
Best Original Song
Beautiful That Way, The Last Showgirl
Compress/Repress, Challengers
El Mal, Emilia Pérez – WINNER
Forbidden Road, Better Man
Kiss The Sky, The Wild Robot
Mi Camino, Emilia Pérez
Best Original Film Score
Conclave
The Brutalist
The Wild Robot
Emilia Pérez
Challengers – WINNER
Dune: Part Two
TV
Best TV Series – Drama
The Diplomat
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Shōgun – WINNER
Squid Game
Slow Horses
The Day of the Jackal
Shōgun was the most honored television series with four including coveted Best TV Series – Drama
Best TV Series – Comedy or Musical
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
The Gentlemen
Hacks – WINNER
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
Best Limited TV Series
Baby Reindeer – WINNER
Disclaimer
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
The Penguin
Ripley
True Detective: Night Country
Best TV Actress – Drama
Kathy Bates, Matlock
Emma D’Arcy, House of the Dragon
Maya Erskine, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Keira Knightley, Black Doves
Anna Sawai, Shōgun – WINNER
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Best TV Actor – Drama
Donald Glover, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Jake Gyllenhaal, Presumed Innocent
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Eddie Redmayne, The Day of the Jackal
Hiroyuki Sanada, Shōgun – WINNER
Billy Bob Thornton, Landman (Paramount+)
Best TV Actress – Comedy or Musical
Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
Kathryn Hahn, Agatha All Along
Jean Smart, Hacks – WINNER
Jean Smart earned Best TV Actress – Comedy or Musical for Hacks
Best TV Actor – Comedy or Musical
Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This
Ted Danson, A Man on the Inside
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Jason Segel, Shrinking
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear – WINNER
Best TV Actress – Limited Series
Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer
Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country – WINNER
Cristin Milioti, The Penguin
Sofía Vergara, Griselda
Naomi Watts, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Kate Winslet, The Regime
Best TV Actor – Limited Series
Colin Farrell, The Penguin – WINNER
Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
Kevin Kline, Disclaimer
Cooper Koch, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Ewan McGregor, A Gentleman in Moscow
Andrew Scott, Ripley
Best Supporting Actress – TV
Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Dakota Fanning, Ripley
Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer – WINNER
Allison Janney, The Diplomat
Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country
Jessica Gunning took home Best Supporting Actress – TV for her incredible work on Baby Reindeer
Best Supporting Actor – TV
Tadanobu Asano, Shōgun – WINNER
Javier Bardem, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Harrison Ford, Shrinking
Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
Diego Luna, La Maquina
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
Best TV Stand-Up Comedy Performance
Jamie Foxx, What Had Happened Was
Nikki Glaser, Someday You’ll Die
Seth Meyers, Dad Man Walking
Adam Sandler, Love You
Ali Wong, Single Lady – WINNER
Ramy Youssef, More Feelings
Ali Wong beat out Nikki Glaser for Best TV Stand-Up Comedy Performance
