The Controversial Matt Rife

Matt Rife has made waves in comedy thanks to his candid, honest style of comedy. However, some of his jokes have caused controversy – such as making comments that included ableist remarks as well as commentaries regarding domestic violence that caused outrage.

Ryman Auditorium in Nashville has announced it has cancelled two scheduled shows scheduled for June. Matt Rife says he plans to take a two-week break and tickets holders will be reimbursed accordingly.

He’s a TikTok star

Matt Rife has enjoyed great success over the last few years. His first Netflix special, Natural Selection, became the highest-viewed comedy special of 2014 while his Problem Mathic World Tour has sold-out venues all across North America.

However, his TikTok clips don’t live up to their billing; on average the best clips only receive approximately 1 million views. He nonetheless maintains that he has an intuitive sense for what audiences want.

His popularity stems from both his good looks and the fact that straight women flocked to his shows. It’s almost impossible to find a profile without mention of his physical appeal. He and actress Jessica Lord met under strange circumstances in Mississippi, eventually becoming beloved members of the entertainment industry together. Their fans have deep connections to them both; they frequently share moments from their personal lives on social media or make public appearances together at charity events together.

He’s a comedian

Rife hails from a small town near Columbus, Ohio, where he began performing stand-up comedy at 15. At first self-financed, now Rife sells out theaters across North America with sold out performances. Most recently he signed an exclusive Netflix film deal to film two specials and is working on developing an office comedy show for Netflix.

Natural Selection was an astounding success on Netflix and created controversy due to its jokes regarding domestic violence. For example, one particular joke involved him going into a restaurant and noting that its hostess had a black eye; many found this offensive and it caused them to disapprove of him and/or turn them away as female fans of his comedy specials.

This controversy raiseds questions of whether comedy should still be enjoyable if it offends vulnerable groups of people. Matt Rife told Variety he doesn’t worry about offending anyone and believes everything is open for discussion and jokes about.

He’s a social media troll

Matt Rife has experienced an astonishing surge in fame. First gained recognition through TikTok, where he amassed 18 million followers. His comedy routines typically involve crowd work; here he interacts with audience members and discusses their personal experiences.

Natural Selection, Rife’s debut Netflix special, premiered on Nov. 15 and features jokes about social media trolls and spirituality as well as humorous insights into domestic violence.

Rife’s Netflix special has garnered mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Some have criticized his selection of topics while others find his humor effective. Rife defended his comedy by noting there should be no off limits when it comes to jokes; in an interview with Variety he even called sensitivity in comedy an outdated notion he doesn’t adhere to! Additionally, Rife claims his comedy wants to appeal both men and women equally.

He’s a father

Matt Rife’s debut Netflix special, Natural Selection, has been both critically and commercially successful; but also controversial. TikTok star Matt Rife made headlines for joking about domestic violence during the show; many viewers accused Rife of disregarding female viewers in his audience and turning away.

Since then, he has issued an apology, noting that it was “untypical of him.” Additionally, the comedian promised not to make such jokes in future.

Rife has found support in Jessica Lord, his girlfriend since mid-2023. They can often be seen together at public appearances such as celebrating his 28th birthday. Rife credits Lord with helping him stay grounded while keeping focus on what’s most important – something Rife cannot always manage alone. They’ve been dating ever since!