Comedian Matt Rife has found himself in the midst of another controversy, this time stemming from an alleged comment directed at a 6-year-old. The backlash against Rife began following the release of his Netflix special, “Natural Selection,” in November.
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,” eliciting laughter from the audience. As a clip of his astrology bit began circulating on social media, people began tagging a popular TikToker named Bunny Hedaya. They knew that she had a 6-year-old son with a keen interest in space.
In the video, shared on both her Instagram and TikTok accounts, her son politely corrects Matt, saying, “Actually, it’s Saturn that has the rings. It has more [visible ones] also.” He then adds, “And, you’re mean to girls,” apparently in response to Rife’s domestic violence jokes. Bunny emphasized that the video was intended to be “lighthearted,” but it appears Matt didn’t interpret it that way.
This latest controversy adds fuel to the fire ignited by Rife’s Netflix special, which had already drawn criticism for its insensitive content. It highlights the power of social media in allowing individuals to respond to public figures and call attention to their actions, even when the comments are directed at a 6-year-old child. As the controversy unfolds, it raises questions about the responsibility of comedians and public figures to consider the potential impact of their words on various audiences, including children.