"Perfect analogy for grief": Fans react as Aubrey Plaza reveals her feelings after loss of her husband earlier this year on Amy Poehler’s podcast

Aubrey Plaza chose Amy Poehler’s new podcast Good Hang as the place to speak publicly, for the first time in detail, about the death of her husband Jeff Baena.

The filmmaker died by suicide in January at age 47.

Amy Poehler began the conversation gently, acknowledging both the loss and the public’s concern:

“To get it out of the way, people want to see you and see how you are. They love you, and they want to see you. You had this terrible, terrible, tragic year. You lost your husband. You’ve been dealing with that, and you’ve been looking for all different ways in which to feel and find support."

The Parks and Recreation actress went on:

"On behalf of all the people who feel like they know you, and the people who do know you, how are you feeling today?”

Aubrey Plaza, who married Jeff Baena in 2021 after a decade together, responded with honesty.

“Overall, I’m here and I’m functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think like I’m OK. It’s like a daily struggle, obviously."

In trying to explain the weight of grief, Aubrey Plaza used a pop culture reference: the Apple TV+ thriller The Gorge, released earlier this year.

“It’s an alien movie with Miles Teller. In the movie, there’s a cliff on one side and a cliff on the other side, and a gorge in between that’s filled with monster people trying to get them.”

The Emily the Criminal star explained:

“I swear when I watched it I was like, ‘That feels like what my grief is like,’ or what grief could be like. At all times, there’s a giant ocean of just awfulness that’s right there and I can see it. Sometimes I just want to dive into it and be in it, and sometimes I just look at it. Sometimes I try to get away from it. It’s always there, and the monster people are trying to get me — like Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy.”

One fan reacted to the analogy used by the actress: "Aubrey gave a perfect analogy for grief."

Bravo_Dolls 💖🌈🟧

@Bravo_Dolls

Aubrey gave a perfect analogy for grief 😢

Fans moved by Aubrey Plaza’s candid reflection on grief

Social media users quickly poured in their reactions to Aubrey Plaza as she described her grief at losing her partner.

"After such a tragic loss, what stood out was her use of the word grateful. Gratitude in the midst of grief is proof that love still breathes inside her. That’s how the heart refuses to die, even when it’s broken. I pray this woman finds relief for her magnificent grief, and that The Almighty restores her spirit with the peace only He can give. Gratitude is not the absence of pain… it’s the soil where love keeps growing," one wrote.

"The way she didn’t look up and started petting the dog when Amy asked how she’s doing…she’s not ok. Positive vibes out to Aubrey," another tweeted.

"That’s super sad, I remember her first appearance after it happened and she was wearing his shirt," an X user added.

"Even in her grief still finding moments to be funny as hell honestly, what a woman. i’m so sad for her loss. also grief really does feel like this and even talking about it sometimes u have to just numb yourself to get through the day," one chimed in.

Jeff Baena, who directed Aubrey Plaza in projects like Life After Beth and The Little Hours, was remembered by his family in a joint statement with Plaza earlier this year:

“This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”

For much of 2025, Aubrey Plaza kept a low profile, with Honey Don’t! marking her first major film release since Jeff Baena’s passing. She starred alongside Margaret Qualley, Chris Evans, and Lera Abova.

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Later in the podcast, Amy Poehler, who shared seven seasons of Parks and Recreation with Aubrey Plaza, asked her what makes her laugh these days.

“I’d say there are certain people that make me laugh. I don’t laugh a lot when I watch things. That’s the best thing that makes me laugh, all my funny friends.”

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