Matt Rife is without doubt one of the most controversial names in standup comedy.
The previous Wild ‘n Out forged member parlayed early success on MTV into sitcom roles on Contemporary Off the Boat and Brooklyn 9-9, earlier than blowing up on TikTok along with his edgy comedy routines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rife’s two Netflix specials, Pure Choice and Lucid: A Crowd Work Particular, confronted appreciable backlash for jokes about taboo material — together with home violence — however his reputation 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 advised 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 wish to be bored ever once more — that used to drive me completely insane — [and] there’s nothing worse than your cellphone not ringing, however every so often, I’m like, ‘OK, am I ever going to get an opportunity to take pleasure in the home I simply purchased?’”
Preserve scrolling for a take a look at some ups and downs from Rife’s profession:
$50 Million Revenue
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 tasks.
Rife’s very profitable 2025 included sold-out comedy reveals around the globe and a number of other movie tasks. 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 Crimson 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 pageant as a bonding expertise.
Joke Backlash
Rife endured a big backlash for a joke in his 2023 Netflix particular, Pure Choice, about home violence. The joke centered round Rife’s pal questioning why a diner waitress with a black eye wasn’t working within the kitchen so clients 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 advised Us in December 2024 that he had no regrets concerning the joke regardless of offending some viewers.
“It’s comedy. Generally you don’t hit the mark. Loads of individuals assume I did,” he defined. “Subsequently, it’s not a failure.”
Rife later insisted, “It’s inevitable [people will be offended] with nearly any comic. We’re within the enterprise of constructing individuals completely satisfied, however I gotta be me.”
Courting 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 courting for 4 months.)
“Take pleasure in it when you can,” he advised Davidson on TMZ Stay in 2019. “I hope they’re each completely satisfied, I hope that it may construct to the place it’s a longtime, good relationship. I want them each the perfect. I hope they’re completely satisfied. 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 at all times 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 essentially the most suitable match,” he advised Elle. “I wished to make it possible for each of them have 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 stories in January 2025 that Rife and Beckinsale might 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 an excellent 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 mentioned 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 area 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 completely satisfied 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 de facto 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 motion pictures. Because of the acquisition, he grew to become the authorized guardian of the infamously cursed Annabelle Doll for at the least the following 5 years.
“If you understand me, you understand I’m obsessive about the paranormal and all issues haunted,” he introduced. “You additionally might know The Conjuring movies are my favourite scary motion pictures of all time. So I’m extremely honored to have taken over probably the most distinguished properties in paranormal historical past.”
Matt Rife in August 2024. Monica Schipper/WireImage
Rife introduced plans for followers to “e-book an evening or a weekend and keep on the Warrens’ home and examine the home” as a perk of his possession.
“That is essentially the most random passion ever but it surely’s so f***ing cool, man,” Rife admitted. “I ought to in all probability gather stamps or one thing — is perhaps a bit of 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, lots of whom urged E.l.f. to donate any income to charity.
“You understand us, we’re at all times 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. Neighborhood.”
Matt Rife’s first-ever Netflix comedy particular is receiving main backlash, however the comic has stayed unbothered amid the controversy. “If you happen to’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve advised — right here’s a hyperlink to my official apology,” Rife, 28, shared through Instagram on Monday, November 20. The hyperlink directed Instagram customers to a web based retailer […]
E.l.f. Magnificence’s international chief advertising and marketing officer, Kory Marchisotto, admitted to The Enterprise of Magnificence that executives have been utterly caught off guard by the controversy.
“Clearly we’re very stunned,” Marchisotto mentioned. “There’s a huge hole between our intention and the way this missed the mark for some individuals … We at all times goal 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.”
If you happen to or somebody you understand are experiencing home violence, please name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential help.
