Matt Rife is an emerging comedian who became an overnight sensation following a TikTok video featuring his crowd work going viral. Since then, he has signed with Netflix and is working on developing his first workplace comedy sitcom series.
Rife began performing comedy since he was 15, making regular appearances at Hollywood’s Laugh Factory and becoming one of the youngest people ever featured on BET’s ComicView program.
What is Matt Rife?
Matt Rife had long been a relatively unknown stand-up comedian with only a limited following, appearing occasionally on MTV variety shows and Brooklyn Nine-Nine as a guest appearance. But thanks to TikTok he gained instantaneous renown. Since November 2023 his first Netflix special “Natural Selection” has premiered.
Rife’s viral content has often focused on his crowd interaction segments. These segments typically see straight women attending his performances and asking him to trade husbands or giving relationship advice, often followed by crowd interaction moments from him. These segments became so popular that in 2023 Rife even released an independently-produced special called Walking Red Flag that exclusively showcased these bits.
While Rife’s popularity has surged, his social media feed has been marred by controversy due to his misogynistic jokes and accusations of ableism from some followers of his Indiana shows being cancelled last minute due to this controversy. Regardless, his tour continues at Chicago Theater from May 30 – June 2, with four shows scheduled over that four day span.
How did he get started in comedy?
Rife began his comedy career at an open mic night in Columbus, Ohio. Later moving to Los Angeles for stand-up performances and is currently competing on NBC’s Bring the Funny competition show as an open mic contestant.
Rife’s Netflix special Natural Selection has become immensely popular. Although its jokes have garnered mixed reviews, many are seen as offensive or potentially portray regressive and anti-feminist messages.
Mizejewski noted that she believed if Rife could avoid the offensive jokes that have been spread, he will be able to attract a wider audience and expand his comedy career. Furthermore, she did not feel that calls for a boycott were productive in any way.
What makes him funny?
Matt Rife is an endearing individual with an infectious smile and strong jawbone, who could have easily been cast in Glee as a supporting role; instead he’s become successful as a stand-up comedian due to his physical attractiveness and crowd work capabilities.
However, he’s upset many with his Netflix special Natural Selection, including women who were offended by his misogynistic jokes about domestic violence. While his joke is not racist in itself, but enforces harmful gender stereotypes which makes the women in his audience feel uncomfortable.
On TikTok, his audience work helped propel him into fame; in contrast, Netflix special proves he can’t hold an audience’s interest when required to create and perform an entire set himself – also showing up his lack of comedy chops.
Are his jokes offensive?
Matt Rife has come under fire for making racist and ableist comments in his Netflix special Natural Selection released November 2023 and on social media. Due to this outrage he has postponed his IU show for one week.
TikTok-famous comedian Andrew Stubblebine made waves when his special was released, drawing great acclaim among women fans of comedy alike and garnering widespread media coverage. However, some critics allege that his joke about domestic violence was indecent and misogynistic – something his fans found amusing and positive about their favorite entertainer.
“His choice to open his show with a sexist joke about domestic violence could have been seen as an easy way to gain some quick laughs, yet also gave offence to his female audience,” noted Linda Mizejewski, an Ohio State professor of gender and sexuality studies. Mizejewski believes it reinforces larger social constructs about men’s and women’s perceived roles within the home as well as viral comedy trends where comedians attempt to boost offensive jokes to gain attention.”