Matt Rife controversies explained: How the viral comic's jokes have sparked backlash over the years

Matt Rife is among the most commercially successful and divisive stand-up comedians working today. After years in the comedy circuit, Rife's career took off in 2021 when clips of his crowd work went viral on TikTok. 

Since then, he's become a global phenomenon with a massive (and primarily female) fanbase. This has led to multiple world tours and several Netflix comedy specials, including Natural Selection and Matt Rife: Unwrapped - A Christmas Crowd Work Special, the latter of which was released on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

But even with his tours and streaming deals, some of the comedian's jokes have sparked intense backlash. Here's everything you need to know about his most controversial material — and how it's impacted his career.

What was the controversial joke in Matt Rife's Natural Selection?

Rife released his first Netflix special, Natural Selection, on Nov. 15, 2023, and some of his jokes didn't exactly win over the audience. Early in his set, the comedian made a joke about a Baltimore waitress with a black eye, with some critics claiming the joke made light of domestic violence.

"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?'" Rife said during the special. "And I was like, 'Yeah, but I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn't have that black eye."

He later quipped, "I figure we start the show with domestic violence, the rest of the show should be pretty smooth sailing after that."

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The clip of Rife's opening joke went viral on social media, where many fans condemned him for making light of abuse.

"I'm genuinely trying to figure out how this can be spun as funny? Like he's victim blaming?" reads one comment with nearly 10,000 likes.

"That made me nauseated," reads another with more than 7,500 likes.

How did Matt Rife respond to the backlash?

Rife responded to criticism of Natural Selection with a post on his Instagram Story. "If you've ever been offended by a joke I've told — here's a link to my official apology." A link included in the post led to a medical website selling helmets for those with special needs.

Naturally, his response sparked more backlash, which he addressed during a sold-out set at the Hollywood Bowl in May 2024. “I got in so much trouble for making a joke about special needs helmets, and then I come to L.A. and perform in the biggest helmet,” Rife said, a reference to the venue's bowl-like structure.

Rife also spent portions of his set joking about transgender people and poking fun at cancel culture, per Variety. "What am I gonna do? Get canceled? Cool, I'll do another Bowl show, awesome," he quipped. "You know that's not a real punishment… nothing happens. Prison's a punishment."

Later, he brought up the controversy over his domestic violence joke by speaking with an audience member who had allegedly served time for assault. "Ma'am, are you okay?" Rife asked the person's date before adding, "Guys, I'm kidding. Domestic violence is not funny, ever, ever, on any comedy special ever."

What happened when a 6-year-old called out Matt Rife?

In Natural Selection, Rife also took aim at women who follow astrology, claiming he was tired of the so-called "crystal girls" blaming their "poor decision-making skills on planets that don't even know you."

He continued, "It has nothing to do with the stars, man. Just because Jupiter has a ring and you don't doesn't mean that's what you're supposed to look up to for this magical advice. And stop trying to explain it so confidently, you look stupid every time."

The bit went viral, and on Dec. 6, 2023, a social media influencer named Bunny Hedaya shared a video on Instagram of her 6-year-old son responding: "Actually, it's Saturn that has the rings... And you're mean to girls."

In a follow-up clip, Hedaya highlighted an alleged (and now-deleted) response from Rife on her video that said, "Jupiter also has [a] ring. OH!... and Santa [Claus] isn't real. Your mom buys you presents with the money she makes on OnlyFans. Good luck."

"Matt Rife has decided to start beef with my 6-year-old child online," Hedaya told her followers. "Yeah, you heard me correctly."

She also shot down Rife's OnlyFans claim and addressed him directly: "For you to assume that every woman online makes money by showing their bodies, which, like, if that's what you do, do you girl, love it. [But] I have never made a single dollar from a man." 

She continued, "You can't accept the fact that people may like women for their personalities. We know you don't have one. I really wish you luck on what's left of your career, but keep my child's name out of your mouth."

What's this about E.l.f. Cosmetics facing controversy over Matt Rife?

On Aug. 11, 2025, E.l.f. Cosmetics dropped a Y2K-inspired commercial titled "The Law Offices of e.l.f.ino & Schmarnes," starring Rife and drag queen Heidi N Closet. 

Almost immediately, E.l.f. faced a flood of backlash on social media, with many questioning Rife's involvement due to his joke about domestic violence. As a result, the cosmetics company issued an apology.

"You know us, we’re always listening and we’ve heard you," the brand posted via Instagram on Aug. 13. "This campaign aimed to humorously spotlight beauty injustice. We understand we missed the mark with people we care about in our e.l.f. Community."

E.l.f.'s global chief marketing officer, Kory Marchisotto, told The Business of Fashion that the controversy caught the company off guard.

"Obviously we're very surprised," he said. "There is a big gap between our intention and how this missed the mark for some people … We always aim to deliver positivity, and this one didn't. So we find ourselves in a position where, quite honestly, that doesn't feel good for us."

Despite the criticism and apology, the campaign remains on E.l.f.'s social media accounts.

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