Matt Rife is likely one of the most controversial names in standup comedy.
The previous Wild ‘n Out solid member parlayed early success on MTV into sitcom roles on Contemporary Off the Boat and Brooklyn 9-9, earlier than blowing up on TikTok together with his edgy comedy routines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rife’s two Netflix specials, Pure Choice and Lucid: A Crowd Work Special, confronted appreciable backlash for jokes about taboo subject material — together with home violence — however his recognition solely elevated within the wake of social media debate. (Rife strenuously denied that his jokes meant that he’s a “supporter of home violence.”)
“For 11 straight years, I awakened just about each single day with nothing to do until I created one thing to do,” he instructed Us Weekly solely in August 2024. “Now, I get up and go, ‘Wow, I don’t know if I’ll ever have a free day for the remainder of my life,’ which is a blessing and a curse.”
He went on, “I don’t ever need to be bored ever once more — that used to drive me completely insane — [and] there’s nothing worse than your cellphone not ringing, however now and again, I’m like, ‘OK, am I ever going to get an opportunity to get pleasure from the home I simply purchased?’”
Maintain scrolling for a have a look at some ups and downs from Rife’s profession:
$50 Million Earnings
Forbes ranked Rife as one of many High 10 Content material Creators of 2025 for making $50 million {dollars} from his Netflix specials and varied different initiatives.
Rife’s very profitable 2025 included sold-out comedy exhibits all over the world and several other movie initiatives. He appeared within the indie horror thriller I Stay Right here Now, and landed a costarring position with Owen Wilson within the upcoming comedy Rolling Loud. The 2026 film — which additionally options The Child Laroi, Sexyy Pink and Ty Dolla $ign — is loosely impressed by the true story of an overprotective dad who agrees to sneak his 13-year-old son into Miami’s Rolling Loud music competition as a bonding expertise.
Joke Backlash
Rife endured a major backlash for a joke in his 2023 Netflix particular, Pure Choice, about home violence. The joke centered round Rife’s buddy questioning why a diner waitress with a black eye wasn’t working within the kitchen so prospects wouldn’t see her wound.
“Yeah, however I really feel like if she might prepare dinner, she wouldn’t have that black eye,” Rife quipped.
Matt Rife in January 2025. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Home violence prevention advocates objected to the joke and demanded a public apology. The comic instructed Us in December 2024 that he had no regrets in regards to the joke regardless of offending some viewers.
“It’s comedy. Typically you don’t hit the mark. Loads of individuals suppose I did,” he defined. “Due to this fact, it’s not a failure.”
Rife later insisted, “It’s inevitable [people will be offended] with virtually any comic. We’re within the enterprise of creating individuals glad, however I gotta be me.”
Relationship Kate Beckinsale
Rife dated the Underworld actress for a yr after they initially linked in 2017. Following their break up, he made headlines for commenting on Beckinsale’s short-lived romance with Pete Davidson. (Beckinsale and Davidson break up in April 2019 after relationship for 4 months.)
“Take pleasure in it whilst you can,” he instructed Davidson on TMZ Stay in 2019. “I hope they’re each glad, I hope that it could actually construct to the place it’s a longtime, good relationship. I want them each the very best. I hope they’re glad. I don’t actually have any stable recommendation, simply watch out.”
In September 2023, Rife expressed remorse for addressing Beckinsale’s new relationship with Davidson since there have been no arduous emotions between them.
Matt Rife gained a serious following after his standup comedy routines blew up on TikTok, however his household was all the time there supporting his profession — and now he’s returning the favor. The Netflix star had a very shut bond to his late grandfather, Steve Rife. “My grandpa actually was my father determine. I spent each […]
“I gave that recommendation as a result of I used to be solely talking from private expertise, having been collectively and discovering out that we weren’t probably the most appropriate match,” he instructed Elle. “I needed to make it possible for each of them had been cautious with their feelings and didn’t head into one thing that additionally they wouldn’t, that additionally wouldn’t work out.”
There have been experiences in January 2025 that Rife and Beckinsale could have reconnected on the Golden Globes afterparty, although a supply confirmed to Us that they’d solely had a pleasant chat.
“They’re pleasant exes having enjoyable conversations and laughing having a great time,” an insider clarified to Us.
Residing the Dream
Talking to Us forward of his second Netflix comedy particular, Lucid: A Crowd Work Particular, in August 2024, Rife stated he’d already been profitable past his wildest goals.
“The dream I had was, OK, if I might simply promote out weekends at comedy golf equipment for 300-seat venues, I f***ing made it,” Rife defined. “The extent of being a Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Katt Williams — these enviornment acts [and] top-tier entertainers — by no means even occurred to me. I’m from f***ing Ohio, it doesn’t actually appear becoming.”
He continued, “I’m tremendous glad to get to work with [Netflix] in any capability actually, however to work with them on one thing that has been so pure and area of interest to me, and to what I do, is absolutely cool. I feel we’re bringing one thing to Netflix that folks haven’t actually seen earlier than.”
Cursed Annabelle Doll
Some of the sudden developments in Rife’s life occurred in August 2025 when he bought the house of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the real-life paranormal investigators from the Conjuring films. Because of the acquisition, he grew to become the authorized guardian of the infamously cursed Annabelle Doll for no less than the following 5 years.
“If you realize me, you realize I’m obsessive about the paranormal and all issues haunted,” he introduced. “You additionally could know The Conjuring movies are my favourite scary films of all time. So I’m extremely honored to have taken over one of the crucial distinguished properties in paranormal historical past.”
Matt Rife in August 2024. Monica Schipper/WireImage
Rife introduced plans for followers to “ebook an evening or a weekend and keep on the Warrens’ home and examine the home” as a perk of his possession.
“That is probably the most random pastime ever but it surely’s so f***ing cool, man,” Rife admitted. “I ought to most likely gather stamps or one thing — is perhaps slightly safer.”
E.l.f. Cosmetics Controversy
Oakland-based cosmetics firm E.l.f. confronted a serious backlash in August 2025 for hiring Rife to seem in an advert marketing campaign with RuPaul’s Drag Race queen Heidi N Closet. The corporate was deluged with social media commenters nonetheless upset over Rife’s home violence joke, a lot of whom urged E.l.f. to donate any income to charity.
“You already know us, we’re all the time listening and we’ve heard you,” the model posted through Instagram in August 2025. “This marketing campaign aimed to humorously highlight magnificence injustice. We perceive we missed the mark with individuals we care about in our e.l.f. Group.”
Matt Rife’s first-ever Netflix comedy particular is receiving main backlash, however the comic has stayed unbothered amid the controversy. “In case you’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve instructed — right here’s a hyperlink to my official apology,” Rife, 28, shared through Instagram on Monday, November 20. The hyperlink directed Instagram customers to an internet retailer […]
E.l.f. Magnificence’s international chief advertising and marketing officer, Kory Marchisotto, admitted to The Enterprise of Magnificence that executives had been utterly caught off guard by the controversy.
“Clearly we’re very stunned,” Marchisotto stated. “There’s a massive hole between our intention and the way this missed the mark for some individuals … We all the time intention to ship positivity, and this one didn’t. So we discover ourselves ready the place, fairly truthfully, that doesn’t really feel good for us.”
In case you or somebody you realize are experiencing home violence, please name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential help.
