Disheartening: This will leave u in tears 😭 😭 These Facts About Matt Rife Are Just Sad
If you’re not familiar with Matt Rife, odds are that you haven’t been introduced to the hilarious world of TikTok comedians. Countless funny stars have gotten their start on the app, including the ever-relatable Elyse Myers and the adorable comedy duo Darcy & Jer, and it’s clear that social media has led to them becoming viral sensations. Now, with Rife’s incredible following on TikTok having just surpassed the 18 million mark, and the Netflix special, “Matt Rife: Natural Selection,” released in 2023, everyone is internet sleuthing to find out everything there is to know about the social media star.
He’s practically become an overnight sensation, but a lot of the comedian’s fame can be attributed to his controversial on-stage persona and recent scandals, leading many to call for his cancellation. Rife has brazenly tested the waters with jokes that some think have crossed the line, and while many currently view him as an unsympathetic figure, few know his tragic backstory. From the deaths of his father and grandfather to his difficult upbringing and struggles with mental health, these facts about Matt Rife’s life are heartbreaking.
Matt Rife’s father died by suicide when he was a baby
When Matt Rife was just a year old, tragedy struck and he experienced his first brush with death after his father died by suicide. Although the comedian didn’t have the opportunity to spend much time with his father, it’s clear that he still had an impact on Rife’s life. In a 2017 Instagram post, the TikTok star posted a Father’s Day tribute to his late dad with a caption that read, “Love and miss you everyday, wondering how different things would’ve been if you were still here. Regardless God had it planned unfairly, but it’s only made me stronger as a man.”
In April 2022, the comedian sat down with Bert Kreischer for an interview on “Bertcast” and spoke about what it feels like to now have surpassed his dad’s age. “He was 20. … It’s weird to think about. I’m 26 now and when you think about your dad, no matter what stage, you think of like, a grown man. But … I’m older than my dad ever was,” he said. Rife went on to explain that he believes his father was depressed and had a strained living situation when he ended his own life. While it’s a tragic story, Rife thankfully still has his mother to rely on for support.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
He had a difficult upbringing
There have been many successful comedians who have faced adversity, including Matt Rife, who had a difficult childhood after his father died. When he was 5 years old, his mom remarried and, according to the comedian, his new stepdad wasn’t a very good person. In speaking on the “Sharp Tongue” podcast in February 2021, Rife remarked, “You know the stereotypical, like movie stepdad, where it’s like white trailer trash, alcoholic, abusive, stepdad? I ended up with one of those for like, 16 years.”
In addition to a tough home life, Rife’s hometown of North Lewisburg, Ohio left him with very little chance of making it as a comedian. While on “Brandon’s Comedy Bomb Show” in October 2020, he said, “[I thought that] if I don’t leave and go to L.A., I’m just going to stay in Ohio, get somebody pregnant, then graduate high school and then work at the Honda plant, like everybody else where I’m from.”
Thankfully, Rife was presented with the opportunity to perform stand-up when he was 14 for the school’s talent show, and just a year later, he was on stage doing real sets. His passion for comedy and ability to buckle down and do what he needed to succeed led him out to Los Angeles, and led him to become one of the most-watched comedians on TikTok.
Matt Rife struggles with insecurity
Just looking at Matt Rife, it’s hard to imagine that he could ever feel insecure about his looks. Often referred to as the “hot” comedian on TikTok, fans have been eager to make their adoration known. And while there has been online speculation that Rife has had plastic surgery, particularly lip and cheek fillers, he has vehemently denied all of the rumors.
However, Rife has admitted to getting work done on his teeth to quell an insecurity that used to plague the young comedian. Speaking on the “Cancelled with Tana Mongeau” podcast in June 2023, he explained, “The only thing I’ve ever done is my teeth. I got veneers, obviously, because my teeth were f***ed when I was a kid
