Disheartening: This will leave u in tears
These Facts About Matt Rife Are Just Sad

If youāre not familiar with Matt Rife, odds are that you havenāt 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 itās clear that social media has led to them becoming viral sensations. Now, with Rifeās incredible following on TikTok having just surpassed the 18 million mark, and the Netflix special, āMatt Rife: Natural Selection,ā released in 2023, everyone is internet sleuthing to find out everything there is to know about the social media star.
Heās practically become an overnight sensation, but a lot of the comedianās 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 Rifeās life are heartbreaking.
Matt Rifeās 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 didnāt have the opportunity to spend much time with his father, itās clear that he still had an impact on Rifeās life. In a 2017 Instagram post, the TikTok star posted a Fatherās Day tribute to his late dad with a caption that read, āLove and miss you everyday, wondering how different things wouldāve been if you were still here. Regardless God had it planned unfairly, but itās only made me stronger as a man.ā
In April 2022, the comedian sat down with Bert Kreischer for an interview on āBertcastā and spoke about what it feels like to now have surpassed his dadās age. āHe was 20. ⦠Itās weird to think about. Iām 26 now and when you think about your dad, no matter what stage, you think of like, a grown man. But ⦠Iām older than my dad ever was,ā 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 itās 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 wasnāt a very good person. In speaking on the āSharp Tongueā podcast in February 2021, Rife remarked, āYou know the stereotypical, like movie stepdad, where itās like white trailer trash, alcoholic, abusive, stepdad? I ended up with one of those for like, 16 years.ā
In addition to a tough home life, Rifeās hometown of North Lewisburg, Ohio left him with very little chance of making it as a comedian. While on āBrandonās Comedy Bomb Showā in October 2020, he said, ā[I thought that] if I donāt leave and go to L.A., Iām just going to stay in Ohio, get somebody pregnant, then graduate high school and then work at the Honda plant, like everybody else where Iām from.ā
Thankfully, Rife was presented with the opportunity to perform stand-up when he was 14 for the schoolās 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, itās hard to imagine that he could ever feel insecure about his looks. Often referred to as the āhotā 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 āCancelled with Tana Mongeauā podcast in June 2023, he explained, āThe only thing Iāve ever done is my teeth. I got veneers, obviously, because my teeth were f***ed when I was a kid