Aubrey Plaza shocked her fans during Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX when she returned to the screen following her husband Jeff Baena’s tragic death.

It was the 40-year-old White Lotus star’s first appearance in just over a month since the heartbreaking news broke.

Plaza was featured in a commercial for Ritz crackers in which she, rapper and singer Bad Bunny and actor Michael Shannon competed to see who had the more sarcastic, bitter persona.

Her husband Baena, a respected film director, was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ by suicide at their home in Los Angeles on January 4, and he had reportedly died sometime the day prior.

His death led to an outpouring of support from Hollywood stars for Plaza, who married him in 2021.

But the Parks & Recreation star’s latest commercial was filmed prior to Baena’s death, and it didn’t feature any hint of tragedy. 

Aubrey Plaza shocked her fans during Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX when she returned to the screen following her husband Jeff Baena’s tragic death

It was the 40-year-old White Lotus star’s first appearance in just over a month since the heartbreaking news of his death broke; pictured together in 2017 in Culver City, Calif.

In the Ritz ad, Plaza and Shannon were seen arriving at what looked like a H๏τel lobby or resort for fans of the popular crackers, whom Shannon called their ‘salty brethren.’

‘He’s salty,’ Plaza said as she looked over at an angry toll-booth operator, ‘but I’m the saltiest.’

Read More Jeff Baena’s haunting quotes on mental health after shock death

But Shannon took that statement as a challenge.

‘Oh, saltier than me? When I smile people think it’s a glitch,’ he bragged. 

‘Please, I’m the human version of Monday,’ she sH๏τ back, before letting out a comical cat-like hiss.

But the Ritz cracker appeared to be the saltiest of all, which annoyed the two actors.

‘ʙuттery, salty showoff,’ Shannon grumbled as he examined a cracker close up. 

Bad Bunny made a late appearance in the ad as a Ritz fan who couldn’t follow the salty rules. 

Baena, a respected film director, was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ by suicide at their home in Los Angeles on January 4, and he had reportedly died sometime the day prior; seen together in 2014 in LA

The ad costarred the rapper and singer Bad Bunny (L)

In the Ritz ad, Plaza and Shannon were seen arriving at what looked like a H๏τel lobby or resort for fans of the popular crackers, whom Shannon called their ‘salty brethren’

‘He’s salty,’ Plaza said as she looked over at an angry toll-booth operator, ‘but I’m the saltiest’

But Shannon took that statement as a challenge. ‘Oh, saltier than me? When I smile people think it’s a glitch,’ he bragged

‘Please, I’m the human version of Monday,’ she sH๏τ back, before letting out a comical cat-like hiss

Bad Bunny made a late appearance in the ad as a Ritz fan who couldn’t follow the salty rules

‘I love them!’ he shouted to Plaza and Shannon, before the Shape Of Water actor told him to ‘read the sign.’

The hitmaker, who wore sunglᴀsses with a mustache and goatee, turned to look at a big red sign reading, ‘No smiles allowed,’ even as he couldn’t stop grinning.

He scoffed at it before Plaza warned that he was going to get them ‘kicked out’ of the party.

‘So?’ he replied to her in a salty manner, which got Plaza to begrudgingly admit: ‘That’s better.’ 

In the wake of Baena’s death, a representative for Plaza issued a short statement: ‘This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.’

The actress had been schedule to make an appearance a day after Baena was discovered to present at the Golden Globes, but she understandably skipped the ceremony.

However, many of the starts attending the show kept her in their thoughts.

Brady Corbet, who won the Best Director award that evening for The Brutalist, concluded his triumphant acceptance speech with a word of sympathy for her and Baena’s family.

In the wake of Baena’s death, a representative for Plaza issued a short statement: ‘This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time’; seen in 2016 in LA

‘Finally, tonight my heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s family — good night,’ Corbet said.

Just then, the cameras cut to an emotional Adrien Brody, showing The Brutalist star holding back tears from his table in the audience.

Baena was best known for writing and directing five films, including the medieval black comedy The Little Hours (2017), which featured his future wife in its ensemble cast of comic stars.

She had previously played the тιтle role in his 2014 zombie romantic comedy Life After Beth.

Baena was also a regular collaborator with the actress Alison Brie, who starred in and co-wrote his final two films, Horse Girl (2020) and Spin Me Round (2022), the latter of which featured Aubrey in a supporting role.  

Prior to graduating to directing his own films, Baena’s most acclaimed work was as co-writer of director David O. Russell’s cult comedy I Heart Huckabees, which starred an ensemble cast featuring Mark Wahlberg, Jason Schwartzman, Naomi Watts, Jude Law, Lily Tomlin, Dustin Hoffman and Isabelle Huppert.