Jeff Baena texted Aubrey Plaza hours before his tragic suicide, report reveals
Jeff Baena sent a final text message to his estranged wife, Aubrey Plaza, just hours before his January 3, 2025, suicide, according to a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner report.
The report, obtained by People, confirms that Baena, 47, and Plaza had been separated since September 2024.Despite their split, the screenwriter and director reached out to Plaza on the morning of his death, confirming that he was still alive when he sent the message.
Authorities state that Baena had shown signs of distress in October 2024, making concerning remarks to Plaza that led her to request a welfare check. He subsequently began attending therapy but continued to experience marital difficulties.
Baena was discovered by his dog walker at 10:25 AM PT at his Los Angeles home. The report states she heard loud music from inside the house and found Baena hanging from a staircase. 911 was called immediately, but Baena was pronounced dead at the scene.
No suicide note was found, but a cell phone was located nearby. Toxicology results confirmed that no alcohol or drugs were in his system at the time of his death.
Plaza, who married Baena in 2021, has since paid tribute to him, notably wearing a tie-dye shirt at the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary special, referencing their impromptu wedding attire.
Baena's family and Plaza issued a joint statement, calling his death an 'unimaginable tragedy.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
Rachel Zoe joins Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 15 in Bravo return
Rachel Zoe is returning to reality television as a new cast member on season 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH), PEOPLE confirmed on June 6, 2025. The 53-year-old fashion icon shared the news on Instagram, expressing her enthusiasm about reuniting with the Bravo network. "Here we go again @bravotv !!!✨ I am officially joining #TheRealHousewivesofBeverlyHills and back with my Bravo family. Let's do this!" she wrote. In an accompanying video, Zoe explained her decision: 'When the stars align or it makes sense or I have enough to say... now is the time.' Zoe rose to prominence on Bravo's The Rachel Zoe Project, which aired from 2008 to 2013 and followed her life as a celebrity stylist and fashion designer. Since then, she has remained active in the fashion and lifestyle space through her newsletter The Zoe Report, launched in 2009. Amid these personal and professional developments, Zoe also recently experienced a significant life change. In 2024, she and husband Rodger Berman ended their 26-year marriage after 33 years together. The former couple, who share sons Skyler and Kaius, issued a joint statement on Instagram, emphasizing their commitment to co-parenting and continuing to collaborate on their shared business ventures. The RHOBH cast is also undergoing changes. Zoe's casting comes on the heels of Garcelle Beauvais' departure after five seasons. Beauvais said she was stepping away to focus on her family and pursue new creative projects. Bravo has yet to confirm which other cast members will return for season 15. Zoe's return is a notable moment for longtime Bravo fans, bringing her signature fashion-forward persona back to the network. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs on Bravo and is available for streaming on Peacock.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Elizabeth Weber reemerges after decades for Billy Joel's HBO documentary
Elizabeth Weber, Billy Joel's first wife and longtime former manager, made headlines this week by publicly speaking for the first time in 43 years. The 82-year-old appeared at the premiere of And So It Goes, HBO's new two-part documentary on the music icon, during the 2025 Tribeca Festival in New York. Weber, often referred to as Joel's muse and the inspiration behind several of his classic songs, attended the event with her son Sean Small. Reflecting on her eight-year marriage to Joel, she told People, 'It was great then, it's great whenever I think about it, and it's great now.' The documentary dives deep into Billy Joel's early struggles, creative rise, and personal pain — much of which centered around Elizabeth. The two had a controversial beginning, with Elizabeth initially married to Joel's bandmate Jon Small. Despite the rocky start, she and Joel married in 1973, with Weber becoming a strategic force behind his success. She reportedly pushed him to release 'Just the Way You Are' — a decision that won him two Grammys. Weber also inspired iconic songs such as 'She's Always a Woman' and 'The Stranger.' However, their marriage ended in the early 1980s amid Joel's growing substance issues and a near-fatal motorcycle accident. Now, re-entering public life, Weber says she joined the project after encouragement from her granddaughters and co-director Susan Lacy. Notably absent was Joel, 75, who is recovering from normal pressure hydrocephalus. According to Lacy, he is undergoing physical therapy and is expected to recover fully. Weber's return offers rare insight into a pivotal yet misunderstood chapter of Billy Joel's career and personal life.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin split after nearly 8 years together
Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin have broken up once more, bringing an end to their nearly eight-year, on-and-off relationship. Sources have confirmed to PEOPLE that the split feels 'final this time.' Representatives for both stars have yet to comment on the matter. The actress and the Coldplay frontman were first linked romantically in 2017 and had been engaged for several years, although they were never in a rush to marry. Engagement rumours had first surfaced in 2020, but it was later revealed that they had been engaged for a while before confirming it publicly. The couple had appeared publicly together as recently as May 2025, when they were photographed in Malibu. Earlier in January, they were also seen in India, where Martin was touring with Coldplay. Despite ongoing breakup rumours in 2024, the couple had been spotted together in various locations, showing no signs of a split at the time. Although their relationship had its ups and downs, the couple seemed to be in a good place before the latest breakup, leaving fans wondering what comes next for the pair. Dakota Johnson, who stars in Materialists, opens up about her perspective on relationships in a recent interview, challenging traditional views on marriage and divorce.
