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.’