Comedian Matt Rife Responds to Criticism of 'Natural Selection' Special: 'Read My Official Apology'
Comedian Matt Rife remains unfazed by the criticism surrounding his Netflix comedy special, Natural Selection, as he humorously addresses the backlash in a link to his official apology
Matt Rife Taylor Hill/Getty Images
Matt Rife's debut comedy special on Netflix has faced significant criticism, yet the comedian has remained unfazed by the controversy.
" If any of my jokes have offended you, here's a link to my official apology," Rife, 28, posted on Instagram on Monday, November 20. The link redirected users to an online store selling Special Needs Helmets.
The link seemed to be a reference to one of his Matt Rife: Natural Selection jokes, delving into the topic of special needs and making an NSFW joke about a former classmate. This uncomfortable moment is revisited multiple times throughout the special.
Earlier in the special, Rife also made a joke about domestic violence, recounting a visit to a restaurant in Baltimore where their waitress had a black eye. He questioned why she wouldn't work in the kitchen to hide the injury, and then joked, "But I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn't have that black eye."
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) had strong reactions to the special.
"I'd prefer to hear nails on a chalkboard than listen to Matt Rife trying to please men," one social media user commented. Another person added, "Every joke I've heard poking fun at Matt Rife is 1000 times funnier than anything he's ever said."
Another person chimed in, saying, "It's ridiculous how women helped Matt Rife become popular, and then he turns around and makes a joke about domestic violence in his Netflix comedy special. It's insane." The comedian defended himself, claiming he was only testing the audience's sense of humor with the controversial joke during his special "Matt Rife: Natural Selection" filmed at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.
Rife anticipated backlash ahead of the special's release, previously stating that there are no rules about sensitivity in the comedy world. He suggested that starting the show with domestic violence would make the rest of the show easier.
"I don't buy into the idea that comedians can't speak their minds anymore due to sensitivity," Rife told Variety in a November 14 interview. "That's nonsense. You can say whatever you want, but you have to be ready for the consequences. Ultimately, it's about being able to sleep at night."
He continued, "You can't control how people see you. So, how do you sleep at night? As a comedian, it all comes down to intent. For me, everything I say on stage is meant to make people laugh. It's that simple and nothing more."
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Rife expressed his appreciation for "dark humor" in his comedy, stating that he believes there are no off-limits topics if handled appropriately and with good timing. He emphasized the importance of staying true to oneself and not fearing potential offense, as it could limit opportunities to connect with new audiences.
