Aubrey Plaza’s Pregnancy Ignites Conversation on Widowhood Double Standards

Actor Aubrey Plaza is expecting her first child, according to representatives who confirmed the news on April 7, 2026. The 41-year-old will welcome the baby this fall with actor Christopher Abbott.

The announcement, first reported by People, was described by Plaza’s team as “a beautiful surprise after an emotional year.” Plaza and Abbott have worked together multiple times, including in the 2020 film Black Bear and the 2023 off-Broadway play Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.

While many fans and peers have congratulated the couple, the news has also drawn criticism on social media. Some users questioned the timing, noting that the pregnancy comes about 15 months after the death of Plaza’s husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, in January 2025.

The reaction has prompted a broader discussion about how widows are perceived in public life. Critics of the backlash argue that women often face stricter expectations around grief and moving on after a partner’s death. Some commentators point to research suggesting men are more likely than women to remarry within a short period after losing a spouse, yet face less public scrutiny when they do.

Others have emphasized that personal circumstances are often more complex than public narratives suggest. Reports indicate that Plaza and Baena had separated months before his death, though they remained in contact.

Plaza has not directly responded to the recent criticism. However, in a late 2025 appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, she spoke about coping with loss, describing her grief as a “giant ocean of awfulness” that she continues to navigate.