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Filmmaker Jeff Baena, the husband of actress Aubrey Plaza, has been found dead aged 47.

The US director and writer was known for films including Life After Beth and The Little Hours, in which Plaza starred.

He died on Friday, according to Los Angeles medical examiner records, viewed by E! News.

According to Deadline, the filmmaker’s family “is devastated and asks for privacy at this difficult time”.

The circumstances of his death are not yet clear.

Plaza, 40, who is known for TV series including Parks And Recreation and The White Lotus, and films such as Emily The Criminal, had been in a relationship with Baena since about 2011, and the pair married in 2021.

The pair frequently collaborated on his films. While working on his last movie, Spin Me Around, released in 2022, Plaza confirmed they had wed.

More on Aubrey Plaza

“So proud of my darling husband,” she wrote on Instagram in May 2021, “for dreaming up another film that takes us to italia to cause some more trouble”.

Baena was a graduate of New York University’s film school and became a production assistant for filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, known for films including Back To The Future and Forrest Gump, after moving to Los Angeles.

He also worked as an assistant editor for writer-director David O Russell (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook), with whom he co-wrote the 2004 indie comedy I Heart Huckabees, starring Jason Schwartzman, Naomi Watts, Jude Law, Mark Wahlberg, Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin.

In 2014, Baena made his directorial debut with Life After Beth, a horror comedy, followed by Joshy, in which Plaza also appeared, in 2016. Both films were nominated for the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize.

His other credits included Horse Girl and the TV series Cinema Toast.

Plaza’s representatives have been contacted for comment.

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Kanye West criticised over Super Bowl ad for website selling swastika T-shirt

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Kanye West criticised over Super Bowl ad for website selling swastika T-shirt

Kanye West has been criticised over a TV advert directing people to a website selling a swastika T-shirt during the Super Bowl.

It shows him lying down, telling viewers: “I spent all the money for the commercial on these new teeth, so once again I had to shoot it on the iPhone… go to Yeezy.com.”

The site now features nothing but a single T-shirt with a swastika on the front – alongside the code “HH-01” – believed to be a reference to “Heil Hitler”.

The advert was shown in the Los Angeles area during the big game, but not nationwide.

The listing is the sole item on West's website
Image:
The listing is the sole item on West’s website

It comes after West deactivated his X account after more antisemitic posts last week.

The rapper’s final entry stated: “I’m logging out of Twitter. I appreciate [X owner] Elon [Musk] for allowing me to vent.

“It has been very cathartic to use the world as a sounding board. It was like an Ayahuasca trip.”

“Love all of you who gave me your energy and attention. To we connect again [sic]. Good afternoon and goodnight.”

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Kanye’s wife shocks at Grammys

West made multiple posts on Friday, including statements such as “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi” – with the Campaign Against Antisemitism calling on Mr Musk to ban him.

The group said the T-shirt listing was another damning example of West’s dangerous prejudice.

“The swastika is the symbol adopted by Hitler as the primary emblem of the Nazis,” it posted.

“It galvanized his followers in the 20th century and continues to threaten and instil fear in those targeted by antisemitism and white supremacy.”

West – also known as Ye – has been suspended from Twitter at least twice before.

In October 2022, his account was restricted over antisemitic comments but he returned the following month. The outcry prompted Adidas to end their lucrative trainer deal.

Two months later, he was locked out again after posts including one appearing to show a swastika inside a Star of David.

Elon Musk, who rebranded Twitter as X in 2023, said at the time the suspension was “for incitement to violence” but the account was back up and running the following summer.

Read more:
Friends star urges Musk to remove West
West and Adidas reach settlement after years of lawsuits

West’s wife, Bianca Censori, also made headlines last week when she wore a fully transparent dress at the Grammy Awards.

The couple posed for several minutes on the red carpet before reportedly being escorted away.

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Kanye West leaves X after ‘antisemitic rampage’

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Kanye West leaves X after 'antisemitic rampage'

Kanye West has deleted his X account after being criticised over a series of offensive posts on the social media platform.

The US rapper, also known as Ye, was criticised for posting “hate-filled” remarks about Jewish people.

On Friday many of his posts centred on the Jewish community and he said “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi”.

Another post said: “I’m never apologising for my Jewish comments.”

Following the posts, West’s account had a “sensitive content warning” added to it.

But the 47-year-old now appears to have deleted his X account.

“I’m logging out of Twitter,” he wrote. “I appreciate [X owner] Elon [Musk] for allowing me to vent.

“It has been very cathartic to use the world as a sounding board. It was like an Ayahuasca trip.”

“Love all of you who gave me your energy and attention. To we connect again [sic]. Good afternoon and goodnight.”

During the Super Bowl show he had posted about Taylor Swift, writing: “IF ITS ABOUT THE CULTURE … WHY ARE WE LETTING TAYLOR SWIFT BE SEEN ON TV SINGING A SONG ABOUT TAKING A BLACK MAN DOWN AND ACCUSING OF THINGS THAT CAN TAKE A BLACK MAN DOWN FOR LIFE.”

Read more from Sky News:
Donald Trump makes history at Super Bowl
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More than 600 immigration arrests in January

Elon Musk gestures at the podium inside the Capital One arena.
Pic: Reuters
Image:
X owner Elon Musk. File pic: Reuters


Calls for Musk to remove West from platform

The Campaign Against Antisemitism had called on Mr Musk to remove West from X over a string of offensive posts.

A spokesperson said: “Once again, Ye has gone on an antisemitic rampage online. It couldn’t be any clearer that he is an unrepentant, proud antisemite.”

It added: “At a time of unprecedented antisemitism, there can be no mistaking this incitement for exactly what it is. We call on Elon Musk to remove him from X.”

Friends star David Schwimmer joined the group and others urging Mr Musk to remove West from the platform because of his “hate-filled, ignorant bile”.

The US actor said on his Instagram account: “This is so 2022. We can’t stop a deranged bigot from spewing hate filled, ignorant bile… but we CAN stop giving him a megaphone, Mr Musk.

“Kanye West has 32.7 million followers on your platform, X. That’s twice as many people than the number of Jews in existence. His sick hate speech results in REAL LIFE violence against Jews.

“I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that he identifies as a Nazi (which implies he wants to exterminate ALL marginalized communities including his own) or the fact that there is not sufficient OUTRAGE to remove and ban him from all social media at this point.”

“Silence is complicity,” he added.

Rapper has had account suspended before

It comes after West and his wife Bianca Censori caused controversy at the Grammy Awards when she wore a transparent dress on the red carpet as he stood by her.

The rapper has had his X account suspended at least twice in the past.

In October 2022, West’s account was restricted over antisemitic comments, but he returned to the platform the following month. He also made antisemitic remarks that led Adidas to cut ties with him.

In December 2022 it was suspended after he made antisemitic comments and praised Hitler.

At the time Mr Musk said the account would be suspended after Kanye posted an image appearing to show a swastika inside a Star of David.

He said the suspension was “for incitement to violence”. The account was unsuspended by July 2023.

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Bryan Adams forced to cancel concert due to ‘large blockage of fat, grease and rags’

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Bryan Adams forced to cancel concert due to 'large blockage of fat, grease and rags'

A Bryan Adams concert has been cancelled in Australia due to the risk of sewage backing up into the venue’s toilets.

The singer-songwriter’s performance at the RAC Arena in Perth on Sunday was called off due to a “potential public health risk”.

The city’s water officials said a “large blockage of fat, grease and rags” was causing several “wastewater overflows” at properties near the venue.

Fans will receive an automatic refund for their tickets, but reacted angrily to the late cancellation, with many taking to social media to complain they were already queuing at the 16,000-capacity venue.

Others asked if they would also be reimbursed for money spent on travel, food and accommodation.

The Water Corporation apologised for the “inconvenience” and said in a statement: “People should avoid contact with any pooled water in the area of Wellington Street, Perth, as it may be sewage following a major blockage on a sewer.

“Our crews are working to clear the large blockage of fat, grease and rags, which has caused several wastewater overflows at properties along Wellington Street.

“The Bryan Adams concert at RAC Arena was cancelled due to the risk of sewage backing up within the venue toilets, posing a potential public health risk.”

Read more on Sky News:
Oasis fans say Ticketmaster cancelled orders over ‘bot’ claims
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The concert promoter said the water issue “was unable to be fixed in time” and called the cancellation “bitterly disappointing”.

Frontier Touring added: “The issue, which impacted all of Wellington Street, meant that it was deemed unsafe for patrons to enter RAC Arena.”

In a further blow to fans, the promoter said it would be “unable” to reschedule the concert.

Adams is touring Australia and New Zealand with his So Happy It Hurts Tour and is being supported by James Arthur.

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