MATT RIFE HAS NO REGRETS - 'It's Comedy'

After a sudden rise to fame (thanks, TikTok), the always unbothered Matt Rife proves that nothing can bring him down

- SHELBY STIVALE

The last two years have been a whirlwind for Matt Rife. The Ohio native catapulted to comedy superstardom after videos of his now-notorious crowd work went viral on TikTok, leading to a record-breaking world tour, over 39 million followers across social media and two Netflix specials.

But what goes up must come down — at least a bit. The comedian’s controversial 2023 special, Natural Selection, which kicked off with a joke about domestic violence, may have been wildly popular but was also met with major backlash. “The immense positivity I received at the very beginning of [my career] can’t last forever,” reflects Rife. “It taught me to respectfully not give a f**k. I know my intentions. I know where my heart lies.”

Now, with the release of his memoir, Your Mom’s Gonna Love Me (out Dec. 3), fans will get to know the “real” Rife even better. “Not only did I feel it necessary to explain more about my life and everything it took to get [here], but it also feels like I’ve already lived [a lot],” Rife, 29, tells Us of writing the book (with his signature edge, of course). “So much of your life when you’re in the public eye is open to interpretation. It gave me a chance to tell my story on my terms.” Here, Rife shares more about forging his own path.

Why was now the perfect time for a memoir?

Everything I’ve accomplished [so far], I didn’t want that to be summarized into two or three chapters 50 years from now. I hadn’t had a chance to really take in everything that’s been going on with me for the past couple of years. Getting to look back on every detail of my life was therapeutic.

You address your controversial Netflix special. What was the most important lesson you learned?