Topline
Matt Rife, a stand-up comedian known for his viral TikTok clips and his large female fan base, is facing some backlash on social media over a joke he made about domestic violence during his recent Netflix comedy special—and a joke he made in response to the criticism.
In his recently released Netflix special, “Natural Selection,” Rife made a joke about domestic … [+] violence that sparked a strong social media backlash.
Key Facts
Rife started his November 15 Netflix special, “Natural Selection,” with a story set at a “ratchet” Baltimore restaurant where the hostess had a “full black eye,” and, Rife said, it was “pretty obvious what happened,” seemingly alluding to domestic violence.
As part of the joke, Rife continued, saying the restaurant “should put her in the kitchen or something where nobody has to see her face,” before adding the punchline: “If she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye.”
During the taped special, Rife responded to some in the audience who were shocked at the story, saying he was “testing the water, seeing if y’all are going to be fun or not,” adding he thought that if he started the show joking about domestic violence, the rest of the show would be “pretty smooth sailing.”
After the special aired last week, social media users criticized Rife for joking about domestic violence, leading the comedian to respond on his Instagram Monday saying “if you’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve told here’s a link to my official apology” sending users to a website that sells helmets for people with special needs.
Big Number
18.2 million. That’s how many followers Rife has on TikTok.
Chief Critics
Social media users, particularly women, expressed their frustration and disappointment in Rife joking about domestic violence. Fellow TikToker and influencer Drew Afualo posted a video saying she wasn’t surprised to hear Rife’s misogynistic joke, but questioned why the comedian would risk alienating his female fan base.
Key Background
Rife came to fame during the pandemic after garnering an audience on TikTok. He announced his 260 date “ProbleMATTic World Tour” over the summer which sold out in 48 hours, according to the New York Times. While his audience has continued to grow, he’s also made headlines for some controversial comments. Earlier this year, he made an obscene comment about women’s bodies while speaking on the Stiff Socks podcast that caused backlash on social media. When asked by the New York Times about the reaction over the summer, Rife said “You’re mad at somebody that’s just trying to make you laugh? That’s such an insane concept to me.”
Surprising Fact
Rife earned an estimated $25 million in the year ending in June 2023, ranking him ninth among Forbes Top 30 Creators of 2023.
Further Reading
Making Them Laugh, and Swoon (New York Times)
