The Ritz crackers commercial was filmed months before Jeff Baena’s death. The ad, which was filmed in November 2024, features Plaza and fellow actor Michael Shannon arriving at the fictional Ritz Salty Club. The commercial plays off the pair’s notoriously unamused facial expressions and dry personas. "These are our people," Plaza says, and Shannon adds, "our salty brethren.". Plaza claims she's the saltiest in the club, to which Shannon replies, "Saltier than me? When I smile, people think it's a glitch.".
![[Aubrey Plaza and Michael Shannon in Ritz's 2025 Super Bowl commercial]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/02/10/1/19/Aubrey-Plaza-and-Michael-Shannon-in-Ritzs-2025-Super-Bowl-commercial.png)
"Oh, please," Plaza fires back. "I'm the human version of Monday," she says before hissing. Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny then arrives grinning. "Read the sign, buddy!" Shannon yells as the camera pans to a big red sign that reads, "No smiles allowed.”. The ad marks Plaza’s first public appearance since Baena’s death. In a statement shared with The Independent at the time, Plaza said: “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”.
Baena and Plaza began dating in 2011 and married 10 years later. Among his other credits were the films Life After Beth (2014), The Little Hours (2017) and the Netflix movie Horse Girl (2020). Plaza starred in Baena’s horror-comedy film Life After Beth, which was nominated for Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize. They worked together again on the medieval dark comedy The Little Hours, starring husband-and-wife Alison Brie and Dave Franco.
