“Narcissistic” Matt Rife Faces More Controversy After Assuming People Hate Him Because They’re “Jealous” In Resurfaced Clip 

By Samantha Nungesser @samjnungesser
Published Nov. 28, 2023, 4:02 p.m. ET

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Matt Rife: Natural Selection

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Stand-Up Comedy

Matt Rife is continuing to face backlash following the release of his controversial Netflix stand-up special Natural Selection. In a resurfaced clip that has since gone viral on social media, the comedian opens up about his “humbling epiphany” that people only hate him because they’re “jealous.”

The clip in question is from Rife’s June 2023 appearance on Tana Mongeau’s Cancelled podcast, where he responded directly to his haters.

“Here’s a very humbling epiphany that I’ve had recently, because so many fucking people hate me for really no reason, and it really made me realize that people only hate somebody they’re jealous of,” he says in the video.”I’ve been guilty of hating people. And when I really sat back and thought about it, it was because I was jealous of where that person was in their life, like, I felt like they got an opportunity that maybe I should have gotten.”

When Rife finishes speaking, Mongeau savagely replies, “That was a really, really good well-rounded answer that I’m trying to wrap my head around. Do you think people who hate Osama bin Laden are just jealous of him?”

With the clip making rounds on X (formerly known as Twitter), many users are praising the social media personality for shutting down Rife’s “narcissistic” take on his critics.

“‘Humbling epiphany’ followed by ‘everyone who hates me is just jealous’ is so lacking in self-awareness it’s hilarious,” one wrote, while another added, “What if you don’t hate him, you just don’t like his content 🤷‍♂️. Is it still jealousy?”

A third person said, “Tana’s funnier in the last 5 seconds of this clip than the whole of Matt Rife’s  ‘comedic’ career,” while someone else echoed, “Tana’s response is funnier than anything Matt Rife has ever said.”

This situation adds to a string of controversies Rife has come under fire for in recent days. Aside from opening his Netflix special with a domestic violence joke — and subsequently responding to those offended with an apology that linked out to a special needs helmet — he was also slammed for touching Zendaya‘s face without her consent during his 2015 stint on Wild’N Out.

Matt Rife: Natural Selection is currently streaming on Netflix.