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Aubrey Plaza made a memorable return to the spotlight on Friday, gracing the red carpet at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival for the debut of Honey Don’t. This event marks her first significant public appearance since the passing of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, nearly five months ago.
The Parks and Recreation star was accompanied by co-stars Margaret Qualley and Charlie Day to promote their quirky detective comedy, directed by the real-life creative team of Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke.
Baena, noted for films such as Joshy and The Little Hours, was discovered deceased at the Los Angeles residence he shared with Plaza on January 3. The LA County Medical Examiner reported that the 47-year-old’s death was due to 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 â 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 Baenaâs 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 â a bold, ethereal look for an evening steeped in emotion.
In Honey Donât, Qualley plays Honey, a no-nonsense lesbian detective trying to take down a shady preacher â played by Chris Evans â who may be linked to a string of suspicious deaths. The film follows in the quirky, chaotic footsteps of Coen and Cookeâs previous project, Drive-Away Dolls, which also starred Qualley.
The premiere earned a six-and-a-half-minute standing ovation, and American viewers wonât have to wait too long: Honey Donât hits theaters August 22.
