
Aubrey Plaza called in welfare check on husband after he made 'concerning remarks' months before his death
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988.
Aubrey Plaza was concerned about her husband, Jeff Baena, months before his death, according to a report.
Plaza and Baena had been separated since September 2024 when, a month later, Baena made "concerning remarks" to Plaza that prompted the actress to "call a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband," according to a report by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, which was obtained by People.
After the welfare check, Baena began going to therapy. According to the outlet, Baena explained that he was experiencing "recent marital difficulties" with Plaza.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed authorities responded to a call near Baena's residence on Jan. 3. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, the LAPD told Fox News Digital at the time.
His cause of death was ruled a suicide.
"The family is devastated and asks for privacy at this difficult time."
Plaza last communicated with her husband via text on the day of his death at 10:36 a.m. ET, according to People.
On Jan. 6, Baena's representative directed Fox News Digital to a statement originally shared with Deadline. "The family is devastated and asks for privacy at this difficult time," the statement read.
Baena and Plaza were private about their relationship after meeting in 2011. It is unclear when the two wed, but Plaza confirmed the couple's marriage status in 2021 with an Instagram post.
Plaza has deactivated her Instagram page following Baena's death.
Plaza did not attend the Golden Globes days after Baena's death, although she had previously been announced as a presenter.
Baena was born and raised in Miami. He attended film school at New York University and later began his career in Los Angeles.
Baena made his directorial debut with "Life After Beth," which starred Plaza, in 2014. He was also known for films such as "The Little Hours," "Horse Girl" and "Joshy."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lin-Manuel Miranda Reunites Original 'Hamilton 'Cast for Epic 10th Anniversary Performance at 2025 Tony Awards
The original Hamilton cast reunited during the 78th annual Tony Awards in New York City to celebrate its 10th anniversary on Sunday, June 8 Lin-Manuel Miranda, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Daveed Diggs and more took the stage to perform a melody of songs Miranda and Odom Jr. kicked off the tribute with "Non-Stop," following with "My Shot," "The Schuyler Sisters" and more score favoritesThe original cast of Hamilton were in the room where it happens! During the 78th Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 8, Lin-Manuel Miranda and his ensemble of American revolutionaries reunited for a special performance in honor of the hit musical's 10th anniversary. Miranda, the creator and star of the Tony-winning show, was joined by more than two dozen members of the original cast, including including Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Anthony Ramos, Christopher Jackson, Jonathan Groff and Ariana DeBose. The tribute kicked off with Miranda, 45, and Odom Jr., 43, performing a snippet from the song "Non-Stop." Then, the show-stopping performance continued with a melody of tracks from the beloved Hamilton score, including "My Shot," "The Schuyler Sisters," "You'll Be Back," "The Room Where it Happens" and "History Has Its Eyes on You." Hamilton's reunion performance came hours after footage from rehearsals was shared to the musical's official Instagram account, set to a backing track of The Cranberries' hit "Dreams." 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. Speaking to PEOPLE on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony, Diggs, 43, and his wife, Emmy Raver-Lampman, who is also an original cast member, opened up about them all coming together again. "It was the most heartwarming, beautiful reunion of just 28 people that we love so much in a room," said Raver-Lampman, 36. "There's a lot of us that see each other often, and everybody sees each other, but not in this capacity. So, yeah, it was beautiful." Diggs, who won a Tony Award in 2016 for his performance in the show, added, "In this business, you keep moving so much that you don't often take the time to recognize how special something is while you're in it. It was really special. Obviously, the response was special, but that group of people is pretty singular. I've never been in a room like it." Goldsberry, 54, another Tony winner, recalled the reunion being an emotional affair. "I walked in there, and every single person that came into the room, just tears of joy bubbled up from my soul," she said. "We group hugged a million times. We just love each other so much." Hamilton officially opened on Aug. 6, 2015, at New York City's Richard Rodgers Theatre, where it continues to play. Written and composed by Miranda with direction by Thomas Kail, the musical — which blends hip-hop, R&B, and classical musical theater to tell the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton — was an immediate hit, and remains one of the hottest tickets on Broadway. At the 2016 Tony Awards, the show collected 11 statuettes including Best Musical. Hamilton went on to win Grammys, Oliviers and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The original cast was also featured in a filmed version of the stage production, streaming now on Disney+. The production most recently made history again when its original Broadway cast recording was certified Diamond by the RIAA, the first Broadway album ever to reach that milestone. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! The Tonys aren't the only celebration for Hamilton's 10th anniversary, as Odom will soon reprise his Tony-winning role as Aaron Burr in a special 12-week engagement beginning Sept. 9 and running through Nov. 23. "Returning to Hamilton is a deeply meaningful homecoming," Odom said in a statement. "I'm so grateful for the chance to step back into the room — especially during this anniversary moment — and to revisit this brilliant piece that forever changed my life and the lives of so many." See PEOPLE's full coverage of the 78th annual Tony Awards, hosted by Cynthia Erivo at New York City's Radio City Music Hall and airing now on CBS and Paramount+. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Instagram Says Trial Reels Have Helped Creators Significantly Increase Their Reach
This story was originally published on Social Media Today. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Social Media Today newsletter. Instagram's trial Reels have been available for just on six months now, and IG is keen to get more creators trying out its audience sampling feature, in order to help boost content performance. As you can see in this example sequence, trial Reels are shown to a selection of users who don't follow your profile, which can give you early insight into the likely performance of your Reel. To be clear, trial Reels are not displayed to your followers, either in the main Feed or via the Reels tab. The idea is that this gives you an unbiased assessment of content quality, while also helping you potentially reach a broader audience. Which some have also used as a growth hack of sorts, in that you can get your content in front of a broader audience in the app by only showing your Reels to people who don't follow you. Within that, you can also re-post older posts as trial Reels as well, and some creators have found this to be an effective way to build their audience. Another element to consider. 'Approximately 24 hours after sharing a trial reel, you can view engagement data, such as views, likes, comments and shares. The more trial reels you create, the more insights you'll have to compare against other trial reels and the more understanding you'll have on what might perform best.' You're limited to 20 trial Reels per day, but outside of that, you can test and measure your initial Reels' response, which can then help to inform your content strategy. And for those who are using trial Reels, they have proven effective: 'After trying trial reels, 40% of creators started posting reels more often and of those who did, 80% saw an increase in reels reach from non-followers.' So it can help to guide your thinking on what to post, while you can also easily convert trial Reels into regular posts, which will then be shared with your followers. It could be a valuable tool in your IG strategy, and as Instagram notes, many creators are finding this a valuable tool for audience sampling. And IG clearly wants more creators to try it out. If you are thinking about adopting trial Reels, you need to have a professional account (though IG also says that some creators without a professional account may have access to trial reels as part of ongoing testing). You can activate a trial Reel in the publish element of the Reels upload process. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
‘Love Island USA' Contestant Yulissa Escobar Apologizes for Using Racial Slur After Being Kicked Off Show: ‘I Didn't Know Better Then, but I Do Now'
'Love Island USA' contestant Yulissa Escobar has released a statement apologizing for using racial slurs in past podcast clips that resurfaced online. 'In those clips, I used a word I never should've used, a racial slur,' Escobar wrote on her Instagram account. 'I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it. I wasn't trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn't excuse impact. And the impact of that word is real. It's tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.' More from Variety 'Love Island USA' Is Back: Here's How to Watch Season 7 Online 'Love Island' Spinoff 'Beyond the Villa' Greenlit for Summer Premiere With Cast Including JaNa, Serena, Leah and Other Season 6 Stars Luminate Streaming Ratings: 'Cobra Kai,' 'Love Island USA,' 'Find Me Falling' and 'Hillbilly Elegy' Top TV and Film Charts July 19-25 She continued: 'At the time, I was speaking casually in conversation, not thinking deeply or critically about what I was saying. But that doesn't take away from how wrong it was. The truth is, I didn't know better then, but I do now. I've taken the time to reflect, to learn, and to grow from that moment.' Escobar was removed from the villa during the second episode of Season 7, which aired on Peacock on Wednesday, with minimal context about the reason behind her departure. Shortly after Peacock announced the original 'Love Island USA' cast ahead of its June 3 premiere, fans exposed the ex-islander for her controversial past, vowing to vote her off the show once submissions opened. In the clips obtained by TMZ, she is heard saying the N-word several times while discussing past relationships. 'I've changed a lot since then, not just in how I speak, but in how I show up, how I carry myself, and how I honor the experiences of others,' Escobar wrote. 'Growth means recognizing when you were wrong, even if it's uncomfortable, and choosing to move forward with humility and accountability.' In her apology, Escobar also addressed claims of false statements about her character circulating online since her exit. 'There have also been fake statements circulating, things written or said by others that don't reflect me or my heart,' Escobar continued in her post. 'I want to clarify that this is my voice and my words. I don't need anyone to speak for me. I'm choosing to speak for myself because I take full ownership of my actions. Do not listen to the fake statements. This is my official statement. This is me speaking directly to you. To those who are disappointed or offended, I understand, and I apologize. I am sorry.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Animated Program — Can Netflix Score Big With 'Arcane,' 'Devil May Cry' and the Final Season of 'Big Mouth?' What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025