In 2023, Matt Rife, a comedian, experienced a swift surge in popularity, largely due to his interactions with audiences on TikTok. Nonetheless, his career trajectory has taken a downturn following the release of his Netflix special, “Matt Rife: Natural Selection.” His manner of addressing criticism, particularly a recent online altercation with a child aged six, has further fueled public displeasure.
Matt Rife began his comedy career at 19, gaining initial fame on MTV’s “Wild ‘n Out,” a show blending improvisational comedy and rap. His other acting credits include roles in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Fresh Off the Boat.” In 2021, Rife self-released a comedy special titled “Only Fans.” His career truly skyrocketed in July 2022, propelled by the popularity of his TikTok videos featuring audience interactions. This newfound fame led to a Netflix special and a global tour.
Controversy engulfed “Matt Rife: Natural Selection” upon its November 15, 2023, release. The special opened with a joke about domestic violence, which involved a story about a restaurant server with a black eye. Rife’s comment on whether the server’s culinary skills could have prevented her injury was met with substantial criticism on social media, with accusations of misogyny.
In an interview with “Variety” a week before the special’s premiere, Rife stated his intention to demonstrate that his comedic style wasn’t tailored to appease women, despite having a predominantly female fanbase at that time. He suggested the special was more male-oriented.
Rife’s handling of the backlash only worsened his situation. On November 20, he posted a so-called “official apology” on Instagram Stories to those offended by his jokes. This apology included a link to buy a child’s protective helmet, which was perceived as further insensitivity.
The backlash ignited broader discussions about Rife’s career trajectory and his rise to fame. Some critics questioned his comedic skills, attributing his popularity to his physical transformation over the years. There were even speculations about him undergoing plastic surgery to enhance his jawline, a claim he has consistently denied. The situation escalated when Dr. Benjamin Caughlin MD, FACS, a plastic surgeon from Chicago, posted a video on November 28, hinting at having crafted “the greatest jawline ever seen” for a patient who then faced public censure. While the doctor didn’t name Rife, many inferred it was him, leading to Rife’s response that falsifying medical history is illegal.
Rife’s confrontational stance extended to an online exchange with a 6-year-old boy. TikToker Bunny Hedaya shared a video on December 9, claiming Rife engaged in a dispute with her space-enthusiast son. The boy corrected Rife’s astrological error in his special, asserting Saturn, not Jupiter, has the prominent rings, and accused Rife of being disrespectful towards women. Rife reportedly responded dismissively, mentioning Santa Claus’s nonexistence and insinuating the boy’s gifts were funded by his mother’s earnings on OnlyFans. This response drew further criticism, with fans voicing support for Bunny and her son.
