Comedian Matt Rife, known for his edgy humor, is facing a tidal wave of criticism following the release of his Netflix special, Natural Selection. The controversy erupted over a joke in the opening moments of the special that many critics argue is sexist and trivializes domestic violence.
To address the uproar, Rife took to Instagram Stories with a provocative statement: “If you’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve told, here’s a link to my official apology.” However, instead of a heartfelt apology, the link redirected users to a website selling helmets for people with special needs, sparking a fresh wave of outrage and accusations of ableism.
Twitter has become a battleground for disgruntled viewers expressing their disapproval after this response by Matt Rife.
Fans are also noting that this isn’t the first time this has happened, Back in 2015, in the infamous episode of Wild N Out, Rife found himself at the center of controversy with Zendaya.
In a recent interview with Variety, he boldly declared,
“I don’t really adhere to this whole sensitivity rumor in the comedy world that you can’t say anything anymore,”
indicating a deliberate choice to push boundaries in his material.
The fallout from Rife’s response raises questions about the role of comedians in navigating heightened sensitivities and whether unconventional methods of addressing controversy are effective or merely fueling the fire. As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen how Rife’s career and reputation will weather this latest storm.
