LOS ANGELES, CA. (THECOUNT)Aubrey Plaza, known for her role in “The White Lotus,” has deactivated her Instagram account just days after the tragic death of her husband, Jeff Baena. On Monday, January 13, attempts to access Plaza’s profile resulted in a message saying, “Sorry, this page isn’t available. The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed.”

Jeff Baena, a writer and director, died by suicide on January 3 at the age of 47. A statement from Plaza and Baena’s family to PEOPLE magazine expressed their profound sorrow, asking for privacy: “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”

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The decision to delete her Instagram account might have been influenced by an influx of inappropriate comments and “offers to date” Plaza reportedly received after Baena’s death. According to posts found on X, some individuals seemed to misinterpret her current status, with comments suggesting they were “happy she’s single now” and available for dating, which were perceived as insensitive during her time of mourning. This unwelcome attention has been cited by users as a possible reason for her sudden departure from social media.

One user, rollie0735, who claims to have known Plaza for fourteen years, commented, “I’ve known Aubrey for the last fourteen years. She’s going through her own personal hell right now. Please be kind. The amount of disinformation being cast her way is excruciating. She is one of the kindest, most generous friends I have. Treasure the people in your lives. Everyday with them is a gift. You never know the personal pain someone is going through. Choose kindness. Always.”

Another commenter, Possum love, offered sympathies, “Prayers and condolences for the family, always be kind and supportive.” Jeng elaborated further on the situation, “She deleted her account because men are cringy! You wouldn’t go up to someone in person the day after her husband died and be like so… you’re free to date now so why do people think it’s ok to make all the comments they have on her page? It’s disgusting she not only lost her husband but has to deal with the fact that he decided to kill himself which carries so much more hurt and pain. My condolences to Aubrey and her family.”

The sentiment was echoed by katerina, who criticized the behavior, “Should have elaborated in the article that men decided to be disgusting and kept harassing her in the comments because they think just because someone’s husband is suddenly dead, they’re now free real estate to be creepy.” Jenn simply expressed her dismay, “That is just horrible. What is wrong with people?”

In a 2019 interview with PEOPLE, Plaza had spoken about balancing her personal and professional life with Baena, noting, “I think that one of the great things about our careers is that we are forced to be independent, take little breaks, go off and do our things and come back. So it’s kind of fun. Nothing is ever the same. You don’t want to spend too much time apart. But I think that there’s a way that it can work and there’s a balance in that.”

Baena himself was an accomplished filmmaker, with his debut “Life After Beth” starring Plaza, and later “Cinema Toast,” which marked Plaza’s directorial introduction on Showtime in 2021. Plaza had previously discussed the advantages and challenges of working with her partner, emphasizing the mutual understanding and support they shared but also the necessity of maintaining separate projects for a healthy dynamic.

Plaza and Baena had been together since 2011, and their marriage was subtly announced in May 2021 via an Instagram post where Plaza called Baena her “darling husband.” A representative later confirmed that they had indeed married.

For those affected by this news or anyone facing a mental health crisis, resources are available through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or visiting 988lifeline.org.

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