In a surprising turn of events, Matt Rife, known for his roles in TV shows and movies, has found himself at the center of controversy following an alleged insensitive comment directed at a 6-year-old child on TikTok. Despite being a rising star on the comedy scene, Rife’s recent actions have sparked outrage on social media, with TikToker Bunny Hedaya taking to the platform to condemn the comedian for his behavior.
Hedaya, in a TikTok video that has garnered a staggering 9 million views, accused Matt Rife of engaging in an online feud with her young son. Describing her child as “really into [outer] space,” Hedaya shared a screenshot that purportedly captured a fiery response from Rife to her son’s TikTok reaction video about a segment from Rife’s new Netflix stand-up, titled “Natural Selection.”
Where did the TikTok controversy stem from?
The controversy stems from Rife’s comedic take on astrology in his Netflix special, where he humorously criticized individuals who attribute their decision-making skills to the positions of celestial bodies. Rife, 28, remarked, “I am so tired of you ladies blaming your poor decision-making skills on planets that don’t even know you. … Your future is determined by your own thoughts, opinions, and actions. You are in complete control of how your future turns out.”
He continued, “It has nothing to do with the stars, man. Just because Jupiter has a ring, and you don’t, doesn’t mean that’s what you’re supposed to look up to for this magical advice.”
This incident comes on the heels of a previous backlash Rife faced for a controversial joke about domestic violence in the same Netflix stand-up special. In response to the criticism, the comedian opted for another contentious route by making a joke related to special needs.
“Actually, it’s Saturn that has the rings. It has more [visible rings] also,” retorted Hedaya’s son, engaging in a light-hearted correction of Rife’s astronomical reference. The child then took a pointed jab at Rife’s earlier controversial joke about domestic violence victims, stating, “And, you’re mean to girls,” a reference to the comedian’s earlier contentious remarks.
Interestingly, Hedaya clarified in her TikTok video that her son’s response was intended to be playful, and notably, Rife was not tagged in the video. However, Rife seemingly entered the fray by responding to the child’s comments on Instagram in a now-deleted comment. “Jupiter also has [a] ring. OH!… and Santa [Claus] isn’t real,” Rife quipped, taking the opportunity to make a provocative claim about Hedaya’s financial source for purchasing presents. “Your mom buys you presents with the money she makes on OnlyFans. Good luck.”
The exchange on social media has not gone unnoticed by Hedaya’s followers, who have expressed their opinions in the comments section of her TikTok.
One user remarked, “Matt Rife being a comedian who can’t take a joke is the funniest thing about him,” highlighting the irony of a comedian struggling with humor directed at him.
Another added, “I thought Matt Rife couldn’t go any lower.”
A different perspective emerged in the comments, with someone noting, “Matt Rife’s entire ‘comedy’ style is supposed to be dark/offensive humor yet he can’t take a joke from a child… interesting!”
Hedaya took the opportunity to address Rife’s claims about her financial endeavors, asserting that she doesn’t post her body online and suggesting that Rife’s response may stem from an inability to appreciate women for their personalities.
As the social media feud unfolds, Matt Rife has yet to publicly address the latest TikTok video from Bunny Hedaya, leaving the online community to speculate on the comedian’s response to the ongoing controversy.
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