August 2025. Aubrey Plaza sat down with her friend Amy Poehler and described her grief as a "giant ocean of awfulness" [citation:1][citation:6].
"Sometimes I just want to dive into it," she said. "Sometimes I just look at it. Sometimes I try to get away from it. But it's always there." [citation:6]
She compared herself to characters trapped in a gorge filled with monsters, fighting to survive [citation:10].
 |
| Aubrey Plaza |
That was eight months ago.
On April 7, 2026, the same woman announced she is pregnant with her first child at age 41 [citation:2][citation:5].
From "a giant ocean of awfulness" to "a beautiful surprise" [citation:7]. From losing her husband of nearly four years to welcoming new life [citation:8].
She Hid Her Baby Bump at Paris Fashion Week — Then the Truth Came Out 🤰🇫🇷😱
This is the story of Aubrey Plaza's year of extremes. 💔➡️🤰
🌊 Part One: The "Giant Ocean of Awfulness"
January 3, 2025. Jeff Baena, Plaza's husband of nearly four years, died by suicide at age 47 [citation:8]. The filmmaker behind Life After Beth and The Little Hours had been a constant presence in Plaza's life since they started dating in 2011 [citation:8].
What the public didn't know? The couple had separated in September 2024 — four months before his death [citation:3][citation:8]. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report, they had been "experiencing marital difficulties" [citation:3].
Despite the separation, Plaza remained connected to Baena. The coroner's report revealed that Baena had made "concerning remarks" to Plaza in October 2024 that "prompted her to call a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband" [citation:3][citation:8].
On the day of his death, Plaza received a text message from Baena at 10:36 a.m. ET [citation:3]. His body was later discovered by his dog walker [citation:8].
Three days later, Plaza released a statement:
"This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time."
— Aubrey Plaza, January 6, 2025 [citation:8]
🏞️ "That feels like what my grief is like" — Plaza compared her pain to the movie "The Gorge" [citation:1]
💔 The Podcast That Broke Hearts
For months, Plaza stayed largely silent. Then, in August 2025, she appeared on Good Hang — the podcast hosted by her Parks and Recreation co-star and close friend Amy Poehler [citation:1].
What she said left listeners in tears.
Poehler asked gently: "How are you feeling today?" [citation:1]
Plaza responded:
"Overall, I'm here and I'm functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I'm OK. But it's like a daily struggle, obviously." [citation:1][citation:6]
Then came the analogy that broke the internet.
Plaza referenced the 2025 film The Gorge, starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy. In the movie, two cliffs face each other across a dark chasm filled with monsters trying to escape [citation:10].
"I swear when I watched it, I was like, 'That feels like what my grief is like.' At all times, there's a giant ocean of awfulness that's right there, and I can see it. Sometimes I just want to dive into it and be in it. Sometimes I just look at it. Sometimes I try to get away from it. But it's always there, and the monster people are trying to get me." [citation:1][citation:6]
Poehler, visibly emotional, then asked: "How do you stay on the cliff and not in the gorge?" [citation:1]
Plaza's answer? Her close friends — members of her improv group, Bombardo — who make her laugh "really, really hard" [citation:1].
🎭 The Tie-Dye Tribute at SNL50
On February 16, 2025 — just weeks after Baena's death — Plaza made her first public appearance at the SNL50: The Anniversary Special [citation:3].
She introduced musical guests Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard. But it wasn't her words that got attention — it was her shirt [citation:3].
Plaza wore a tie-dye shirt — a quiet but powerful tribute to her late husband.
Why tie-dye?
In a 2021 interview on The Drew Barrymore Show, Plaza had revealed that she and Baena "got married on a whim" during the COVID-19 pandemic [citation:3]. She explained:
"Jeff got really into tie-dyeing during the quarantine. We decided at like 5 p.m. and got married at like 8:30. I decided that Jeff should wear a tie-dye shirt." [citation:3]
The tie-dye pajamas they wore on their wedding day became a symbol of their spontaneous, unconventional love. By wearing tie-dye at SNL50, Plaza honored that memory without saying a word [citation:8].
🌈 The tie-dye shirt — Plaza's quiet tribute to her late husband at SNL50
🤰 Part Two: The "Beautiful Surprise"
April 7, 2026. People magazine broke the news: Aubrey Plaza is pregnant [citation:2][citation:5].
The father? Chris Abbott, 40, an actor who has been quietly dating Plaza [citation:2].
A source told People:
"It's a beautiful surprise after an emotional year. They feel very blessed." [citation:2][citation:5]
From "a giant ocean of awfulness" to "a beautiful surprise."
Two phrases. One year. Two completely different worlds.
The baby is due FALL 2026 [citation:2][citation:7].
Plaza, 41, will become a mother for the first time — a role she has never played before, on screen or off [citation:9].
👨 Who Is Chris Abbott?
Until April 7, most fans had no idea Plaza was even in a relationship.
Chris Abbott (full name Christopher Jacob Abbott), 40, is an actor known for:
- 🎭 Girls (HBO) — played Charlie Dattolo
- 🎬 The Sinner (Season 1) — played Mason
- 🎭 Catch-22 (Hulu) — played John Yossarian
- 🎬 Black Bear (2020) — co-starred with Plaza [citation:2]
- 🎭 Off-Broadway revival of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (2023-2024) — performed with Plaza [citation:2]
Right now, Abbott is on Broadway in Death of a Salesman alongside Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf [citation:2][citation:5].
The couple has never publicly confirmed their relationship. They've never walked a red carpet together. They've never posted about each other on social media.
That's what makes this pregnancy announcement so shocking — no one knew they were even dating [citation:2].
🇫🇷 The Paris Fashion Week Clues (That Everyone Missed)
Looking back, Plaza left subtle hints during Paris Fashion Week in March 2026 [citation:4][citation:5].
At the Loewe show, she wore an oversized black leather jacket [citation:4]. At the Lacoste presentation, she chose a loose-fitting orange look [citation:4][citation:5].
Fashion critics praised her "relaxed silhouette." Fans assumed she was just trying a new style.
Now we know: she was hiding a baby bump [citation:4][citation:7].
At the time, Plaza was already several months pregnant — due in fall 2026 means conception occurred around early 2026.
🤰 From grief to new life — Aubrey Plaza's year of extremes
📅 Timeline: The Year That Changed Everything
🔍 Fact Check: Authentic Sources Confirm Every Detail
✅ Fact 1: Plaza described grief as "a giant ocean of awfulness" on Good Hang podcast
In August 2025, Plaza told Amy Poehler on the Good Hang podcast: "At all times, there's a giant ocean of awfulness that's right there, and I can see it. Sometimes I just want to dive into it. Sometimes I just look at it. Sometimes I try to get away from it." She compared her grief to the movie The Gorge [citation:1][citation:6].
🔗 AP News – Plaza grief interview
✅ Fact 2: Pregnancy confirmed April 7, 2026, by rep to People magazine
People magazine exclusively reported that Aubrey Plaza and Chris Abbott are expecting their first child. A source said: "It's a beautiful surprise after an emotional year. They feel very blessed." Baby is due fall 2026 [citation:2][citation:5].
🔗 People – Pregnancy announcement
✅ Fact 3: Plaza and Baena separated in September 2024, four months before his death
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report (released March 2025) confirmed that Plaza and Baena had "experienced marital difficulties" and officially separated in September 2024. Baena made "concerning remarks" to Plaza in October 2024 [citation:3][citation:8].
🔗 People – Jeff Baena tribute
✅ Fact 4: Plaza wore tie-dye at SNL50 to honor Baena
On February 16, 2025, Plaza appeared at the SNL50 anniversary special wearing a tie-dye shirt — a tribute to the tie-dye pajamas she and Baena wore when they spontaneously married during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 [citation:3][citation:8].
🔗 People – SNL50 appearance
✅ Fact 5: Plaza attended Paris Fashion Week in March 2026 with hidden bump
According to reports, Plaza attended the Loewe and Lacoste shows during Paris Fashion Week (March 2026) wearing loose-fitting outfits — including an oversized leather jacket and a flowing orange look — that concealed her pregnancy [citation:4][citation:5].
🔗 PerthNow – Paris Fashion Week
💬 What People Are Saying
"From 'a giant ocean of awfulness' to 'a beautiful surprise' — Aubrey Plaza's year is proof that life can turn around when you least expect it."
— @resilience_stories, Twitter/X
"The same woman who said 'sometimes I want to dive into the ocean of awfulness' is now expecting her first child. That's not just a comeback. That's a miracle."
— @mentalhealthmatters, Twitter/X
🧠 Final Takeaway
✅ "A giant ocean of awfulness" — Plaza's own words about grief on Amy Poehler's podcast (August 2025) [citation:1][citation:6]
✅ "A beautiful surprise" — source's words about her pregnancy (April 2026) [citation:2][citation:5]
✅ September 2024 separation — Plaza and Baena parted ways four months before his death [citation:3][citation:8]
✅ Tie-dye tribute at SNL50 — honoring the shirt they wore on their spontaneous wedding day [citation:3]
✅ Paris Fashion Week March 2026 — hidden bump in loose-fitting outfits [citation:4][citation:5]
✅ Baby due FALL 2026 — first child for Plaza at 41 [citation:2][citation:7]
From "a giant ocean of awfulness" to "a beautiful surprise."
From losing her husband of nearly four years to preparing for her first child.
From standing on a cliff trying not to fall into the gorge to looking forward to a future she never expected.
Aubrey Plaza's 2026 is proof that joy can find you — even after the darkest storms. 🌊🤰💫
🌅 From grief to new life — sometimes the darkest storms lead to the brightest sunrises
🔁 Your Turn
Have you ever experienced a year of extremes — loss and new beginnings?
Drop your thoughts below 👇
And share this with someone who needs to see that joy can find you after loss.
© 2026 · Sources: AP News, People, CBC News, The Irish Times, PerthNow, Asianet Newsable, San Francisco Chronicle (all external links use rel="nofollow")
Jeff Baena: January 3, 2025 · Pregnancy announcement: April 7, 2026 · Good Hang podcast: August 2025