LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Comedian Matt Rife, renowned for his viral sets on TikTok, is facing a torrent of criticism following the release of his latest Netflix special. The uproar stems from a controversial joke about domestic violence featured in the opening segment of his show, 'Natural Selection', as per Time Magazine.
Matt Rife uses domestic violence as his litmus test for comedy special on Netflix
Rife's routine kicks off with an anecdote about a visit to a "ratchet" Baltimore restaurant where he and a friend notice a female server with a black eye.
He jests about why the restaurant wouldn't confine her to the kitchen to shield customers from seeing the injury, quipping, "Yeah, but I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye."
The comedian gauges audience reaction, stating, "just testing the waters, seeing if y’all are gonna be fun or not," suggesting that starting with a domestic violence joke sets the tone for a smooth show.
Since 2020, Rife has shared his stand-up comedy acts on TikTok, amassing a considerable audience of over 18 million followers. His performances usually center around themes of intimacy, romantic relationships, and dating, resonating positively with his fan base.
Matt Rife receives backlash on social media for joking about domestic violence
Clips of the controversial segment swiftly circulated online, garnering millions of views within days of the special's release.
Social media buzzed with criticism, prompting Rife to take a mocking stance on his Instagram story on November 20. Offering a fake apology with a link to purchase special needs helmets, he seemed to dismiss concerns, further enraging detractors.
Comments flooded in, with one user on X remarking, "Oof... that's pandering to the lowest of the low." Another disillusioned viewer remarked, "So this is what they are charging more money for. I am glad I canceled Netflix."
Another comment condemned the use of such sensitive subjects for humor: "I mean. It’s pretty simple, and not at all hard, comedians. Domestic violence is never a joke. Certainly not one to be used as a ‘comedy’ show audience litmus test."
Adding to the disapproval, someone else criticized Rife's comedic judgment, stating, "Guy has poor taste of humor." Amidst the backlash, a succinct but powerful comment reflected the overall sentiment: "Disgusting."
'Natural Selection' marks Matt Rife's inaugural Netflix comedy special
'Natural Selection' marks Rife's inaugural Netflix comedy special, following his meteoric rise on social media platforms. In a Variety interview, Rife emphasized his aim for the show to resonate with both genders, branching out from his predominantly female-centric content.
However, this isn't the first time Rife found himself embroiled in controversy. Earlier, the comedian faced backlash over ticket prices for his tour, 'ProbleMATTic.' Fans criticized Ticketmaster's price hike, attributing it to Rife's presale code, drawing comparisons to the chaos surrounding Taylor Swift's Eras Tour ticket sales, according to Slate.
