Matt Rife, 28, is a standup comedian well-known for his viral videos on TikTok and Instagram. Performing since age 15, Rife uses “crowd work,” an approach in which he interacts with audience members by making jokes based on their reactions.
His Netflix special, Natural Selection, has sold out shows across the U.S. but his recent performance is sparking controversy due to an opening joke about domestic violence.
He is a stand-up comedian
Matt Rife is an Ohio stand-up comedian who first made waves through Tik Tok before transitioning into mainstream comedy. His flirtatious stage presence has drawn in a large audience and propelled him into one of the fastest rising comedians worldwide; touring alongside world-renowned performers and even landing small roles on sitcoms like Brooklyn Nine-Nine have led to increased recognition and growth for Matt.
However, he has also stirred controversy with his Netflix special. In it he jokes about domestic abuse victims which has drawn widespread condemnation; one reviewer described the special as featuring bad writing, poor delivery, and no laughs at all.
Linda Mizejewski, an associate professor of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Ohio State, believes Rife’s jokes about domestic abuse align with larger social constructs about men’s and women’s roles in society. Hayden Moncada of Buckeye Standup Comedy Club stressed the need for jokes to be appropriately executed without becoming controversial or offensive.
He is a TV personality
Matt Rife is one of the hottest names in entertainment. His engaging stage presence and friendly nature have garnered him legions of fans, especially young women. Due to this success he has sold-out shows as well as an exclusive Netflix special.
Yet his success hasn’t come without its share of controversy. Recently, he was accused of making racist jokes during a set and has also come under scrutiny for anti-gay comments made during performances.
Drew Afualo, an online advocate who specializes in combatting misogynistic men, recently responded to Rife’s remarks with a TikTok video in which she stated his strategy of alienating female listeners while appealing more strongly to male listeners was both misogynistic and not very business savvy.
Rife is currently performing his ProbleMATTic World Tour and boasts five sold-out shows at Mohegan Sun. Additionally, his popularity and success have not gone without being met with criticism from fellow comedians and mainstream media alike.
He is a boxer
The 28-year-old comedian first began performing on several MTV shows, but his career took off once videos of his sets and audience interactions went viral on TikTok. Since then, his success has skyrocketed – regularly appearing on Bring the Funny as well as appearing in small featured roles on sitcoms such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Additionally he also hosts his own paranormal investigation YouTube channel called Overnight.
He became increasingly popular due to speculation surrounding his looks, sparking debates over cosmetic surgery procedures he may or may not have undergone. Rife’s racy crowd work and relationship advice earned him an enormous female fan base; even so, in 2023, Rife released his self-produced special called Walking Red Flag which exclusively featured him providing tongue-in-cheek relationship advice directly from Rife himself.
But his popularity doesn’t come without its critics, including other comedians who view his popularity as more interested in garnering attention than creating clever jokes. And recently he made a joke that many found offensive; although he quickly issued an apology afterward.
He is a writer
Matt Rife has seen his rise catalyzed by TikTok, which artificially inflates his talent level. Rife’s success serves as evidence that TikTok can launch comedy careers – although many comedians criticize its potential as overselling themselves on talent levels.
He’s appeared as a guest star on MTV sketch comedy shows such as Wild ‘N Out and Brooklyn Nine-Nine as well as Fresh Off the Boat sitcoms, released a self-titled special in 2023 and embarked on his ProbleMATTic world tour, performing five sold-out shows at Mohegan Sun during 2018.
However, his rise has come with backlash and accusations of misogyny. One recent controversy involved opening his show with a joke about domestic violence which caused an uproar; also charged with making sexist jokes using “bitch”, the comedian has announced they will alter their material due to these criticisms.