What is going on with Matt Rife?

Comedian Matt Rife, known for his rise to fame on social media platforms like TikTok, has recently found himself in the midst of controversy surrounding his Netflix special, “Natural Selection.”

Launched on November 15, 2023, the special has garnered attention and criticism for a controversial joke about domestic violence that has left audiences divided.

At the outset of “Natural Selection,” Rife dives into a narrative about a visit to a Baltimore restaurant, introducing a joke about domestic violence. The comedian recounts noticing a female server with a black eye and suggests that she should work solely in the kitchen to hide her injury from customers.

The punchline, “Yeah, but I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye,” sparked immediate controversy, with social media buzzing about the appropriateness of the subject matter.

In response to the backlash, Matt Rife took to his Instagram story on November 20 to issue what appeared to be an apology. However, the apology took an unexpected turn as Rife directed offended viewers to a link labeled “Tap to solve the issue.”

Clicking the link led followers to a health website where they could purchase special needs helmets. The unconventional response added a layer of mockery to the controversy, further dividing opinions on the comedian’s approach.

During the special, Rife addressed the controversial joke, stating that he was “just testing the waters, seeing if y’all are gonna be fun or not.” He added, “I figure if we start the show with domestic violence, the rest of the show should be smooth sailing.” This approach, intended to gauge the audience’s receptiveness, has left some questioning the line between edgy humor and potentially offensive content.