Aubrey Plaza was separated from husband months before his death by suicide
Actress Aubrey Plaza was separated from her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, in the months before he died by suicide, authorities have confirmed.
The separation was revealed in a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report obtained by multiple outlets on Wednesday. According to People, the report says Baena had been separated from Plaza since last September, roughly four months before his death.
The 47-year-old screenwriter and director was discovered dead by his dog walker at his L.A. area home on the morning of Jan. 3. The medical examiner later ruled Baena's death as suicide by hanging.
No alcohol or illegal drugs were found in his system and no suicide note was left at the scene, according to TMZ.
Per the examiner's report, the couple had been 'experiencing recent marital difficulties,' with Plaza having moved to New York in September.
A month later, Baena allegedly made 'concerning remarks' that prompted Plaza 'to call a friend to perform a welfare check,' the documents state.
Plaza later told police that Baena had been attending therapy since the October incident. He doesn't appear to have made any additional comments that were cause for concern, and Plaza said there'd been no previous suicide attempts, reported TMZ.
Authorities said Plaza last heard from Baena when he sent her a text message just three hours before he was pronounced dead at 10:39 a.m., though it's unclear what the message said.
Plaza and Baena first began dating in 2011 and tied the knot in 2021. Throughout their relationship, they worked together on multiple projects, with Plaza appearing in his final feature film, 2022's 'Spin Me Round.'
Days following Baena's death, Plaza and his family issued a joint statement calling his passing an 'unimaginable tragedy.'
'We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support,' they said. 'Please respect our privacy during this time.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Journalist Shot with Explosive Device While Wearing Press Badge at L.A. Protest Shares His 'Surprise' at Officers' Escalation
British photojournalist Nick Stern was hospitalized after being struck in the leg by a police-fired explosive while covering a protest over ICE raids in Los Angeles on Saturday night, June 7 He was rushed into emergency surgery the following morning, where doctors removed a "flash bang explosive device" In an interview with PEOPLE, Stern says he was photographing a peaceful group of demonstrators waving Mexican flags when the incident occurredPhotojournalist Nick Stern is recovering after being shot with an explosive device by law enforcement while covering a protest in Los Angeles over ICE raids, despite wearing a visible press badge and carrying professional camera equipment. Speaking from his hospital bed at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Stern says he was 'surprised' by what he describes as a sudden escalation by deputies. 'I was photographing people who were just waving Mexican flags,' Stern tells PEOPLE. 'Then I felt this tremendous pain in my left thigh.' He is currently being treated following emergency surgery after the device became deeply embedded in his leg. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 7, during a protest that erupted in response to reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across Southern California. Demonstrators gathered to voice opposition to immigration enforcement, prompting a strong response from law enforcement and escalating into clashes. Stern says he was standing behind a group of peaceful protesters — not hiding, not obstructing — when the shot was fired. 'I always wear my press ID around my neck so it's highly visible,' he says. 'I was carrying a large camera with a video camera attached. I make sure I'm clearly identifiable as media.' 'I was surprised they were firing anything at all,' he adds. 'Where I was standing, there was nothing more than people waving flags. I wasn't aware of anyone throwing projectiles or doing anything aggressive.' According to Stern, it was members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department who opened fire from what he describes as a 'skirmish line' formed behind their vehicles. 'There was no approach. They were just firing from a defensive position behind their cars,' he says. The projectile, later removed during surgery, was a flash bang explosive device in a hard plastic casing. 'It's about three inches long and an inch in diameter, with a rounded nose. It completely buried itself into my leg muscle. It wasn't a surface injury, it was fully embedded," he explains. Stern, who has covered protests around the world, says this isn't the first time he's been injured on the job. During the 2020 George Floyd protests, he was struck by a foam projectile — a bruise that lasted weeks, but didn't cause any permanent damage. 'That was painful, but it didn't break the skin. This one? I needed surgery.' After being hit Saturday. night, Stern says he called for help. A group of nearby protesters rushed over, carried him to the sidewalk, and flagged down a medic. 'They cut off my pants to look at the injury and applied first aid,' he recalls. 'I actually passed out from the pain.' He was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery the next morning to remove the device. Though he's eager to return home to attend his son's graduation, Stern says recovery will take time and effort. He's currently unable to walk and remains hooked up to antibiotics and a wound drainage system. 'The wound is so large they had to attach a vacuum drain to pull out fluid,' he says. 'I'll be sent home with it, connected to my leg 24/7 for at least two weeks.' One of his main concerns now is infection. Because the device was embedded so deeply and left in his body overnight, he's being closely monitored and treated with IV antibiotics. 'Fortunately, my wife is a nurse and a wound care specialist, so she can do a lot of the procedures at home,' he says. 'But right now, I can't even stand. I'm hoping physical therapy today will help determine the next step.' As for how the experience might change the way he approaches his work, Stern tells PEOPLE it's complicated. 'I'd like to say it won't change how I work,' he says while quoting world-renowned photographer Robert Capa. '(He) said, 'If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough.' That's been my philosophy. But being close puts you at risk.' 'Law enforcement in Los Angeles really needs to look at how they treat the media,' he adds. 'There's been clear targeting. Not just now, but going back to 2020. It's disgraceful that nothing has changed.' Still, Stern says the work remains essential even if the risks have become more personal. 'Your safety and health should come first. But if you lead with that, you can't do the job you're out there to do,' he says. 'Documenting what's happening in the U.S. right now is so important; socially, politically, culturally. It needs to be seen. It needs to be recorded. We can't turn away from it.' As he continues to recover, Stern says the incident has left him shaken and with lingering questions. 'I have a possible belief that they do target media, but I have nothing to prove that,' he says. Despite it all, he remains committed to the work and to telling the truth, no matter how dangerous it becomes. A representative for the L.A. Sheriff's Department said in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Monday, June 9: 'The Department is still reviewing video footage of the incident involving United Kingdom reporter Nick Stern, and it is not clear at this time whether our department was involved in this incident. After reviewing the footage involving Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi, it appears that it involved another law enforcement agency and not the Sheriff's Department.' 'We are committed to an open and transparent relationship with members of the media and are committed to ensuring they can perform their duties safely while covering events, including protests, civil disobedience, and public gatherings," the statement continues. "The LA County Sheriff's Department values its relationship with the media and remains firmly committed to transparency, especially during emergencies and critical incidents. We recognize the essential role journalists play in keeping the public accurately informed, and we strive to facilitate media access safely and effectively.' 'LASD prioritizes maintaining access for credentialed members of the press, even in restricted areas when safe to do so. Our goal is to ensure that the media can carry out its responsibilities while we uphold public safety and operational integrity,' the statement reads. 'The LASD does not condone any actions that intentionally target members of the press, and we continuously train our personnel to distinguish and respect the rights of clearly identified journalists in the field. We remain open to working with all media organizations to improve communication, transparency, and safety for all parties during public safety operations.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
KJ Smith Debuts Baby Bump on BET Awards 2025 Red Carpet
KJ Smith debuted her baby bump on the red carpet at the 2025 BET Awards Smith posed in a flowing green gown outside the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles The actress and her husband Skyh Black, who got married in September 2023, announced in May that they were expectingKJ Smith is bumping along! The Sistas actress debuted her baby bump on the red carpet at the 2025 BET Awards on Monday, June 9 outside the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Smith, 40, is expecting her first baby with her husband Skyh Black. Smith was glowing in a flowing green gown with cutouts and her hair pulled back into an elegant low bun. Black, 37, opted for an all-black ensemble with sunglasses and necklaces to complete the look. The parents-to-be posed on the red carpet for some PDA moments and hand-holding. Black and the All The Queen's Men star began dating in January 2021 and were engaged that December. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Black and Smith got married in September 2023 at the Malibu Dream Resort in front of their 150 closest family members and friends. They spoke with PEOPLE about their special day and the thoughtful theme they had in mind. "Our last name is Black, so we always use it as a play on words," Black said of the event, which included elements of their shared Black culture. "We're from the South and we have these traditions that are very near and dear to our hearts that our parents and grandparents have shared. Our wedding is an homage to our ancestors with some elegant moments we've curated and loved as a couple... And it was better than I imagined." Smith debuted her baby bump in May, announcing her pregnancy with ESSENCE. She was hesitant to have kids since she was focused on her acting career, had fibroids, and suffered from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, Black changed her mind. "I didn't want kids at all. I aspired to be a rich auntie. I did not meet my husband until well into my 30s, so I had already decided," Smith told ESSENCE exclusively. "And then when he came into my life, and you meet a man who is responsible and a leader who takes charge and wants to be a father, wants to have a family, my mind changed as we grew and as we became a couple and married." She continued, "He was the main reason I wanted a child. I said, 'This would be a good experience with you as my partner and husband.' So I didn't anticipate having kids at all, and now I want as many as I can have." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Black is also looking forward to parenthood. "My biological father was very absent in my life. So personally, it's something that I've always looked forward to. It's something that I've always dreamed of, how I was going to connect with my kid, or foster their dreams, so I'm elated," he told the publication. The BET Awards are airing live on Monday, June 9 from Los Angeles' Peacock Theater on BET. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Desi Arnaz Jr. Breaks Silence on His Father's Demons and the Fallout From 'I Love Lucy'
Desi Arnaz Jr. has spent most of his life avoiding the spotlight that once lit up every corner of his childhood. But People reported that in a rare interview for the new biography Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television by Todd S. Purdum, he opens up about growing up in the eye of a cultural storm, and the toll it took. Born into America's most famous television family, Desi Jr. was thrust into the public eye before he could walk. His birth was written into I Love Lucy, and he grew up on the set as his parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, redefined entertainment. But while audiences adored their onscreen chemistry, their real-life relationship was crumbling behind closed doors. 'It wasn't good for anyone,' Desi Jr. said of the constant arguing. He and his sister, Lucie, vividly remember the moment their parents told them the marriage was over. Lucie described their mother as deeply sensitive, often emotionally distant when hurt, while Desi Sr. was volatile but quick to move on—an emotional storm with no apology. The children's backstage experiences were just as complex. Lucie recalled hiding under bleachers when introduced to the audience. Desi Jr., by contrast, embraced the attention. Still, the pressure of fame left deep marks. Both siblings struggled to find stability in the shadow of legends. One of the most poignant moments in the book comes when Desi Jr. recounts helping his father seek treatment for alcoholism. After battling his own addictions, he guided his father toward rehab in 1985—a move that may have saved his life. 'He didn't stop drinking,' Desi Jr. said. 'He didn't know what the real poison was.' This biography isn't just about a television pioneer. It's about the fractured reality of fame and the complicated love between parents and children navigating a world built on performance. Desi Arnaz Jr. Breaks Silence on His Father's Demons and the Fallout From 'I Love Lucy' first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 6, 2025
