Comedian Matt Rife has once again found himself embroiled in controversy, this time due to an alleged comment directed at a 6-year-old child. The backlash against Rife began following the release of his Netflix special, “Natural Selection,” in November. Known for his predominantly female fanbase, Rife’s special stirred controversy from the start with jokes about domestic violence. He also targeted women with specific interests, such as astrology and crystals.
One of Rife’s incendiary comments was about astrology, where he dismissed the practice as a basis for decision-making, stating that individuals are in control of their own future. A clip of this routine began circulating on social media, leading people to tag Bunny Hedaya, a popular TikToker who has a 6-year-old son with a keen interest in space.
In response to the tags, Bunny created a lighthearted video stitching together the clip of Rife’s routine and her son’s correction about the rings of Saturn. Her son also mentioned that Rife was mean to girls, possibly in reference to the domestic violence jokes. Bunny clarified that the video was not meant to be confrontational, but Rife apparently did not see it that way.
According to Bunny, Rife left a comment on her son’s Instagram account, making derogatory remarks about Santa Claus and insinuating that Bunny earns money through explicit content. Bunny clarified that she does not post explicit content and suggested that Rife’s comments reflected a misogynistic mindset.
This latest controversy adds to the criticism Rife’s Netflix special had already faced for its insensitive content. It also highlights the power of social media in allowing individuals to respond to public figures and draw attention to their actions, even when the comments are directed at a young child.
As the controversy unfolds, it raises important questions about the responsibility of comedians and public figures to consider the potential impact of their words on various audiences, including children.
