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'Matt Rife: Natural Selection': The controversy over the comedian's Netflix stand-up special explained

Roxaine November 29, 2023

Matt Rife is making a significant impact on the comedy scene, with the 28-year-old stand-up comic and TikTok favorite gaining widespread attention. However, controversy surrounds his latest Netflix special, Natural Selection, which secured the No. 2 spot on the streaming service's global top 10 list, boasting 7.4 million views in its debut week.

Matt Rife is firing back at criticism over his new Netflix special, Natural Selection

Since its release, Natural Selection has faced criticism, particularly for jokes in the hour-long special that trivialize domestic violence and abuse. The response to the controversy and Rife's reactions have been deemed problematic by some.

Let's explore Matt Rife's journey to fame and the comments that have led to scrutiny.

Who is Matt Rife?

Rife rose to stardom in the click-heavy realm of social media, amassing 18.2 million followers on TikTok and 6.4 million on Instagram. Leveraging this popularity, he produced self-made comedy specials, including Matt Rife: Only Fans on YouTube in December 2021, with subsequent releases like Matthew Steven Rife and Walking Red Flag earlier this year. His presence extended to television with appearances on shows like MTV’s Wild ’n Out and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Rife's transition to Netflix success marked a triumph for the comic, who had been in the comedy scene for over a decade when he launched his self-produced specials.

"I had to put them out on my own, which was very validating. I grew my fan base exponentially," Rife told Variety. "I was so grateful for how much people liked it. But to have somebody come from another level to say, 'Hey, we like what you’re doing. We want to invite you to work with us.' It feels warm. It feels inviting," he continued, noting, "You work your entire career to feel accepted by a network standard."

The Controversial Jokes from Natural Selection

Natural Selection, filmed at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., begins with Rife recounting a trip to Baltimore, Maryland. During this visit to a "ratchet" restaurant, he and a friend encountered a hostess with a black eye. Rife's commentary, including making light of domestic violence, sparked criticism.

"I've only been to Baltimore one time. I ate lunch there, and the hostess, who seats you at the restaurant, had a black eye. A full black eye," Rife told the crowd. "It wasn't like, 'What happened?' It was pretty obvious what happened. We couldn't get over the fact that like, this is the face of the company? This is who you have greeting people?"

He continued with the joke, saying, “And my boy who I was with was like, ‘Yeah, I feel bad for her, man. I feel like they should put her in the kitchen or something where nobody has to see her face, ya know?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, but I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye,’” Rife said, while some audience members laughed.

Undeterred, Rife continued with the routine, playfully gauging the audience's reaction: "Testing the waters, seeing if y’all are gonna be fun or not," he quipped. The response on X (formerly Twitter) saw condemnation of Rife's willingness to jest about such a sensitive issue, particularly against women.

In an interview with Variety, Rife addressed the potential gender divide in his audience. Despite his TikTok viewers being predominantly female, he emphasized creating content for everyone.

"One of the biggest misconceptions of things I get ridiculed online for is people are like, 'Oh, he only has a female fan base,'" he told Variety. "In the beginning yes, because I did blow up on TikTok which is very female-dominant. So, I get that perspective.” He stated that the special "is way more for guys. I wanted to make this special for everybody. I pride myself on making my comedy for everybody. It's not for a specific demographic."

Rife's Response to the Criticism

While Rife refrained from commenting specifically on the controversy surrounding his jokes about domestic violence, he issued a statement via an Instagram Story on Monday. “If you’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve told — here’s a link to my official apology," he wrote. The link option read "Tap to solve your issue." However, instead of linking to an apology, the link directed viewers to a medical website, Medicale Shop, offering helmets for people with special needs.

(Instagram/Matt Rife)

Several hours later, Rife revisited Instagram, playfully acknowledging the situation with "We on the naughty list," alongside a winky-smile emoji. A new link, labeled "This one's real this time," directed followers to his YouTube page, featuring a comedy clip titled "Bad Santa." In this clip, Rife engaged in stand-up, bantering with the audience and teasing a couple who willingly participated in the jesting.

Despite these social media responses, Rife has remained silent on the specific jokes and the ensuing backlash. As of the time of publication, Netflix and Rife's representatives have not responded to requests for comments from Yahoo Entertainment.

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