Netflix Slammed For Releasing New Matt Rife Special After Joke In Last Show Offended People

The uproar dates back to 2023, when Rife’s comedy special, *Natural Selection*, hit Netflix.  

The comedian found himself in hot water after making a particularly crass joke that many viewers deemed not just unfunny but downright offensive.  

 In the special, Rife recounted a visit to Baltimore where he noticed a hostess with a black eye.  

 His response? A tasteless quip that implied she deserved the injury because she couldn’t cook—a remark that was met with a wave of backlash.  

I’ve only been to Baltimore once,” Rife began, setting the scene, “and the hostess who seats you had a black eye—a full black eye.”  

 He continued, “It wasn’t like, ‘What happened?’ It was pretty obvious what happened.” 

The joke spiraled into even murkier waters as Rife added, “My boy, who I was with, was like, ‘Yeah, I feel bad for her, man, I feel like they should put her in the kitchen or something where nobody has to see her face.'”  

And then came the punchline that sent shockwaves: “Yeah, but I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye.”  

Unsurprisingly, many didn’t see the humor and lashed out at the comedian for his insensitivity.  

Rife, however, seemed unfazed by the criticism, brushing it off by claiming he was “testing the water.”  

“I figured we start the show with domestic violence, the rest of the show should be pretty smooth sailing,” Rife said in a now-infamous attempt to downplay the audience’s reaction.  

But the damage was done.  

Critics and fans alike took to social media to express their disgust, accusing Rife of crossing a line that should never have been approached in the first place.  

The backlash didn’t end there. Rife later told *The New York Times* that he found the reaction to his joke “insane.”  

“You’re mad at somebody that’s just trying to make you laugh?” he questioned, still seemingly bewildered by the negative response.  

For many, Rife’s defense only added fuel to the fire.  

This wasn’t the first time Rife found himself embroiled in controversy.  

 The comedian, who rose to fame through his appearances on MTV’s *Wild ‘N Out*, had long flirted with the boundaries of humor.  

But while he managed to charm many with his edgy, offbeat style, others have criticized him for punching down in his jokes, particularly those targeting marginalized groups.  

 Rife’s brand of humor often relies on shock value, pushing the envelope in ways that some find refreshing and others find deeply problematic.  

 Before the *Natural Selection* debacle, Rife had already sparked controversy with his *Walking Red Flag* special on YouTube, a show heavy on crowd work and unpredictable interactions.  

 But it was the domestic violence joke that truly set off alarms, raising questions about whether the comedian’s brand of humor was crossing from edgy to downright offensive.  

As his star continued to rise, so too did the scrutiny of his material, with critics questioning whether Rife’s jokes were genuinely funny or simply a desperate bid for attention.  

Despite the growing backlash, Rife’s popularity soared, and Netflix continued to bank on his ability to draw viewers—controversy and all.  

 Now, with the release of his latest special, *Matt Rife: Lucid – A Crowd Work Special*, Netflix finds itself under fire yet again.  

 The show, which dropped on August 13th, is billed as the streaming giant’s first-ever crowd work special, featuring Rife interacting with an unpredictable Charlotte audience.  

 According to Netflix, the special promises to delve into the topic of dreams, with Rife riffing off the audience’s responses.  

 But for many, the release is a slap in the face, a sign that Netflix is willing to overlook past controversies in favor of ratings.  

Social media erupted with criticism almost immediately.  

 One X user wrote, “You people have no taste or standards,” while another posted a GIF with the caption, “That’s a hard pass.”  

 The criticism isn’t just directed at Rife this time; Netflix is also catching flak for giving the comedian yet another platform.  

It’s not the first time the streaming service has been accused of prioritizing profit over principles, but this latest move has sparked renewed debate over what kind of content should be promoted.  

For Netflix, the stakes are high.  

The platform has a history of pushing boundaries with its original content, but as the backlash against Rife shows, there’s a fine line between being provocative and being problematic.  

In an industry where public opinion can shift in an instant, Netflix’s decision to release *Lucid* is a gamble that could either pay off big or backfire spectacularly.  

Gone too far?

 And while some fans will undoubtedly tune in for the laughs, others are left wondering if Netflix has finally crossed a line it can’t uncross.  

The streaming giant has yet to comment on the backlash, and neither has Rife—at least, not directly.  

For now, both seem content to let the controversy simmer, likely banking on the old adage that any publicity is good publicity.  

 But as the criticism continues to mount, it’s clear that Netflix and Rife are walking a tightrope, one that could either catapult them to new heights or send them crashing down.  

The release of *Lucid* marks a significant moment in both Rife’s career and Netflix’s programming strategy.  

 Whether it’s a triumph or a misstep remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this controversy isn’t going away anytime soon.  

The backlash, the outrage, and the debate—it all points to one thing: people are paying attention, and that might just be exactly what Netflix and Rife want.  

 With the world watching, the question remains: is this a calculated risk or a reckless gamble?  

 Either way, it’s clear that for Netflix and Matt Rife, the stakes have never been higher.