Comic Matt Rife has issued what gave the impression to be a mock apology to indignant viewers of his closely criticized Netflix particular, directing them to a web site promoting particular wants helmets.
The 28-year-old American comedian had been swiftly gaining recognition on-line forward of the Nov. 15 launch of his comedy particular Pure Choice. After it dropped on the streaming service, some viewers of Rife’s Netflix particular expressed outrage that the comic opened the present with a joke about home violence.
In entrance of a stay viewers, Rife recounted a visit to a “ratchet” (slang which means classless or dysfunctional) Baltimore restaurant the place he and a good friend have been greeted by a hostess with a black eye.
Rife mentioned he and his pal have been stunned by the lady’s look, however not for speculative causes on how she obtained the harm.
“It was fairly apparent what occurred,” Rife mentioned in his particular. “We’re like, ‘That is the face of the corporate? That is who you may have greeting individuals?’”
Although Rife mentioned his good friend “felt dangerous” for the lady, they each prompt she should be working within the kitchen “the place nobody has to see her face,” quite than as a front-of-house employees member.
“I really feel like if she may prepare dinner, she wouldn’t have that black eye,” Rife joked, incomes laughter from the gang.
Rife then informed the viewers he was “simply testing the waters” to see if the gang was going to be “enjoyable or not.”
Many followers of Rife have lambasted the particular since its launch and have referred to as on the comic to apologize for the joke about home violence.
On Monday, Rife addressed his critics in an Instagram story. Alongside a photograph of himself in Pure Choice, Rife wrote, “In the event you’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve told- right here’s a hyperlink to my official apology.”
The hyperlink, labelled “Faucet to resolve your difficulty,” directed his followers to a well being web site promoting particular wants helmets — seemingly a callback to a raunchy Pure Choice joke a few former classmate with particular wants.
Rife’s mocking apology solely added gas to the flames and additional outraged his critics.
Matt Rife’s Instagram story. The hyperlink directed viewers to a web site promoting particular wants helmets.
Instagram @mattrife
Rife, who has been working within the comedy scene for over a decade, solely lately reached viral fame — and have become particularly standard amongst gen-Z girls on the social media app TikTok. He was rapidly branded by some because the ‘sizzling comic,’ given his typical attractiveness.
Rife, nevertheless, appeared to take some difficulty with the labelling, and the hordes of younger girls who have been typically recorded heckling at his exhibits.
Rife has talked about how his comedy profession was comparatively unsuccessful earlier than he reached what he’s referred to as a “second puberty” lately, and subsequently gained a fanbase consisting of many ladies.
Nonetheless, he has been adamant that his comedy will not be focused particularly to girls. In an interview with Selection, previous to the discharge of Pure Choice, Rife mentioned the audiences of his standup exhibits are often a “50/50” cut up of women and men.
“That’s one factor that I wished to sort out on this particular was displaying people who, like, regardless of what you concentrate on me on-line, I don’t pander my profession to girls,” Rife mentioned. “I’d argue this particular is far more for guys.”
Rife additionally informed the outlet that he doesn’t “adhere to this complete sensitivity rumor within the comedy world you could’t say something anymore.”
“You may say no matter you need. Now, it’s a must to put together for repercussions. However on the finish of the day, all of it comes all the way down to how do you sleep at evening,” he mentioned.
Rife mentioned that for a comic, all the pieces should be about “intent.”
“All the pieces that leaves my mouth on stage is solely with the intention of creating individuals chortle,” he mentioned. “It’s by no means any deeper, by no means any extra or by no means any lower than that.”
Rife’s critics don’t appear to agree — and have loved poking enjoyable on the comic on-line because the launch of Pure Choice.
Matt Rife: Pure Choice is at present streaming on Netflix.
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