Matt Rife is one of the most controversial names in standup comedy.
The former Wild ‘n Out cast member parlayed early success on MTV into sitcom roles on Fresh Off the Boat and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, before blowing up on TikTok with his edgy comedy routines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rife’s two Netflix specials, Natural Selection and Lucid: A Crowd Work Special, faced considerable backlash for jokes about taboo subject matter — including domestic violence — but his popularity only increased in the wake of social media debate. (Rife strenuously denied that his jokes meant that he is a “supporter of domestic violence.”)
“For 11 straight years, I woke up pretty much every single day with nothing to do unless I created something to do,” he told Us Weekly exclusively in August 2024. “Now, I wake up and go, ‘Wow, I don’t know if I’ll ever have a free day for the rest of my life,’ which is a blessing and a curse.”
He went on, “I don’t ever want to be bored ever again — that used to drive me absolutely insane — [and] there’s nothing worse than your phone not ringing, but every now and then, I’m like, ‘OK, am I ever going to get a chance to enjoy the house I just bought?’”
Keep scrolling for a look at some ups and downs from Rife’s career:
$50 Million Income
Forbes ranked Rife as one of the Top 10 Content Creators of 2025 for making $50 million dollars from his Netflix specials and various other projects.
Rife’s very successful 2025 included sold-out comedy shows around the world and several film projects. He appeared in the indie horror thriller I Live Here Now, and landed a costarring role with Owen Wilson in the upcoming comedy Rolling Loud. The 2026 movie — which also features The Kid Laroi, Sexyy Red and Ty Dolla $ign — is loosely inspired by the true story of an overprotective dad who agrees to sneak his 13-year-old son into Miami’s Rolling Loud music festival as a bonding experience.
Joke Backlash
Rife endured a significant backlash for a joke in his 2023 Netflix special, Natural Selection, about domestic violence. The joke centered around Rife’s friend questioning why a diner waitress with a black eye wasn’t working in the kitchen so customers wouldn’t see her wound.
“Yeah, but I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye,” Rife quipped.
Matt Rife in January 2025. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Domestic violence prevention advocates objected to the joke and demanded a public apology. The comedian told Us in December 2024 that he had no regrets about the joke despite offending some viewers.
“It’s comedy. Sometimes you don’t hit the mark. Plenty of people think I did,” he explained. “Therefore, it’s not a failure.”
Rife later insisted, “It’s inevitable [people will be offended] with almost any comedian. We’re in the business of making people happy, but I gotta be me.”
Dating Kate Beckinsale
Rife dated the Underworld actress for a year after they initially connected in 2017. Following their split, he made headlines for commenting on Beckinsale’s short-lived romance with Pete Davidson. (Beckinsale and Davidson split in April 2019 after dating for four months.)
“Enjoy it while you can,” he told Davidson on TMZ Live in 2019. “I hope they’re both happy, I hope that it can build to where it’s an established, good relationship. I wish them both the best. I hope they’re happy. I don’t really have any solid advice, just be careful.”
In September 2023, Rife expressed regret for addressing Beckinsale’s new relationship with Davidson since there were no hard feelings between them.
Matt Rife gained a major following after his standup comedy routines blew up on TikTok, but his family was always there supporting his career — and now he’s returning the favor. The Netflix star had a particularly close bond to his late grandfather, Steve Rife. “My grandpa really was my father figure. I spent every […]
“I gave that advice because I was only speaking from personal experience, having been together and finding out that we weren’t the most compatible match,” he told Elle. “I wanted to make sure that both of them were careful with their emotions and didn’t head into something that they also wouldn’t, that also wouldn’t work out.”
There were reports in January 2025 that Rife and Beckinsale may have reconnected at the Golden Globes afterparty, though a source confirmed to Us that they’d only had a friendly chat.
“They are friendly exes having fun conversations and laughing having a good time,” an insider clarified to Us.
Living the Dream
Speaking to Us ahead of his second Netflix comedy special, Lucid: A Crowd Work Special, in August 2024, Rife said he’d already been successful beyond his wildest dreams.
“The dream I had was, OK, if I could just sell out weekends at comedy clubs for 300-seat venues, I f***ing made it,” Rife explained. “The level of being a Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Katt Williams — these arena acts [and] top-tier entertainers — never even occurred to me. I’m from f***ing Ohio, it doesn’t really seem fitting.”
He continued, “I’m super happy to get to work with [Netflix] in any capacity really, but to work with them on something that has been so natural and niche to me, and to what I do, is really cool. I think we’re bringing something to Netflix that people haven’t really seen before.”
Cursed Annabelle Doll
One of the most unexpected developments in Rife’s life occurred in August 2025 when he purchased the home of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the real-life paranormal investigators from the Conjuring movies. As a result of the purchase, he became the legal guardian of the infamously cursed Annabelle Doll for at least the next five years.
“If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with the paranormal and all things haunted,” he announced. “You also may know The Conjuring films are my favorite scary movies of all time. So I’m incredibly honored to have taken over one of the most prominent properties in paranormal history.”
Matt Rife in August 2024. Monica Schipper/WireImage
Rife announced plans for fans to “book a night or a weekend and stay at the Warrens’ house and investigate the house” as a perk of his ownership.
“This is the most random hobby ever but it’s so f***ing cool, man,” Rife admitted. “I should probably collect stamps or something — might be a little safer.”
E.l.f. Cosmetics Controversy
Oakland-based cosmetics company E.l.f. faced a major backlash in August 2025 for hiring Rife to appear in an ad campaign with RuPaul’s Drag Race queen Heidi N Closet. The company was deluged with social media commenters still upset over Rife’s domestic violence joke, many of whom urged E.l.f. to donate any profits to charity.
“You know us, we’re always listening and we’ve heard you,” the brand posted via Instagram in August 2025. “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.”
Matt Rife’s first-ever Netflix comedy special is receiving major backlash, but the comedian has stayed unbothered amid the controversy. “If you’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve told — here’s a link to my official apology,” Rife, 28, shared via Instagram on Monday, November 20. The link directed Instagram users to an online store […]
E.l.f. Beauty’s global chief marketing officer, Kory Marchisotto, admitted to The Business of Beauty that executives were completely caught off guard by the controversy.
“Obviously we’re very surprised,” Marchisotto 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.”
If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
