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Aubrey Plaza made a poignant return to the spotlight Friday, stepping onto the red carpet at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of Honey Don’t. The appearance marks her first major public event since the death of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, nearly five months ago.
The Parks and Recreation favorite was joined by co-stars Margaret Qualley and Charlie Day to promote the offbeat detective comedy, directed by real-life creative duo Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke.
Baena, known for films like Joshy and The Little Hours, was found dead at the Los Angeles home he shared with Plaza on January 3. According to the LA County Medical Examiner, the 47-year-old died by suicide.
Plaza, 40, had been in a relationship with Baena since 2011, and the two quietly tied the knot in 2021. She starred in his 2014 directorial debut, the zombie rom-com Life After Beth — a film he also penned.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy,” Plaza said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly following his death. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”
According to Baena’s autopsy report, the couple were separated at the time of his passing.
On the Cannes carpet, Plaza wore a sheer, beaded cream gown layered over a structured corset and matching underwear — a bold, ethereal look for an evening steeped in emotion.
In Honey Don’t, Qualley plays Honey, a no-nonsense lesbian detective trying to take down a shady preacher — played by Chris Evans — who may be linked to a string of suspicious deaths. The film follows in the quirky, chaotic footsteps of Coen and Cooke’s previous project, Drive-Away Dolls, which also starred Qualley.
The premiere earned a six-and-a-half-minute standing ovation, and American viewers won’t have to wait too long: Honey Don’t hits theaters August 22.
English (US)