Rife Finds Peace: Comedian Buys 85 Acres in Rural Rhode Island

Rife Finds Peace: Comedian Buys 85 Acres in Rural Rhode Island

In a surprising turn of events that has fans buzzing, comedian Matt Rife has traded the hustle and bustle of major cities for the serene countryside, purchasing a sprawling 85-acre property in Rhode Island. The Ohio-native, who has spent significant time in Los Angeles and Atlanta, revealed his unexpected move to the Ocean State on ‘Club Shay Shay’, citing a deep need for tranquility amidst his meteoric rise.

“It’s beautiful up there,” Rife told host Shannon Sharpe, extending an open invitation for Sharpe to visit this summer. “We got a little horse farm up there.” When asked about his equestrian experience, Rife fondly recalled his childhood, “I love Shetland pony. My grandfather got me the pony. His name was Ringo.” Sharpe humorously quipped, “Yeah, that wasn’t the reparations he was expecting.” Rife acknowledged the difference, stating, “A little different from a horse.”

A Sanctuary from the Spotlight

The decision to buy in Rhode Island was sparked by a serendipitous Zillow search during a day off from shows at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. “I saw this house on Zillow that was like an hour away and we had the first part of our day off before the show. I was like, you know, let me just go check out this house. Fell in love with it,” Rife explained. He praised the property’s beauty and the convenience of nearby amenities, noting, “The area is great. I’m 7 minutes from Walmart, 5 minutes from Target. Like it’s got it’s got everything that I personally need.” While a Costco remains elusive in his immediate vicinity, Rife is content with the essentials: “I’m all right on the Costco as long as I got Walmart, Taco Bell, and Target. I’ll be all right.” The proximity to Providence Airport and Boston also offers practical advantages.

For Rife, the move is a deliberate step away from the constant proximity to people that has defined his life for the past four years. “I just wanted something peaceful, man. Like this these last four years have been so aggressive. I’m around people all the time. And we’re in the big cities all the time,” he shared. “I wanted somewhere that like when I’m not working, I can just be at peace.” The impact has been profound: “This house is the first place I’ve ever in 30 years, woken up happy every day.” The picturesque landscape and quiet atmosphere have provided a much-needed respite. “People leave me alone. The community is really, really nice. They’ve been so good to me,” he added, highlighting his engagement with local shows.

From Dayton Dreams to Global Stardom

Looking back, Rife reflected on his humble beginnings and how far he’s come. “If somebody would have told you at say 15, Matt, where you going to live what would you have told them?” Sharpe inquired. Rife’s response painted a picture of modest aspirations: “Oh man no probably Dayton probably Dayton with four kids.” His youthful dream was simply to “sell out comedy clubs every weekend for the rest of my life,” a far cry from his current reality of arena tours and widespread fame. “To be able to do what I’m doing now is so far past what I thought I would get to do. It’s the most amazing feeling, man.”

Rife also touched upon the timing of his success, linking it to personal loss. “It almost felt like I had to lose something so important to me to gain something. I couldn’t have it all, right? So, you just kind of adapt to whatever God gives you and be grateful.”

Reflections on Career Choices and Content Creation

When prompted to offer advice to his 2018 self, Rife humorously suggested, “Probably would have dropped these dickpics a little bit earlier.” More seriously, he reflected on his financial situation and career path. “Probably could have been not living paycheck to paycheck in 2018. Probably wouldn’t have had to do Bring the Funny if I would have hopped on Only Fans as an original content creator.” He acknowledged that his dedication to stand-up and touring in 2018 left little room for deviation. “I did as much standup as I could. I worked on my set as much as I could. I tried to develop an audience as much as I could.”

Rife also considered earlier adoption of social media platforms like TikTok. “Maybe I would have changed. You still run your social media pages?” he asked himself, before answering, “I do. I do for a little bit longer. Not for too much longer, but I I do for now.” He emphasized his meticulous approach to content creation, stating, “I just don’t trust anybody. I still edit all my own videos as well. I do all the comedic cuts for it.” He believes that comedy hinges on precise timing, making it difficult to delegate.

The Nuances of Comedy and Audience Interaction

Addressing the boundaries of comedy, Rife asserted, “There’s nothing I wouldn’t say. Given the right context, given the right setup, it was it’s great.” However, he also expressed a nuanced view on offensive material. “If somebody tells me something is offensive and all all I need is one person from that group to say that bothers me, okay, I’m cool.” He shared an anecdote about calling a Japanese-American colleague “Ichiro,” a name he later learned was sensitive due to the passing of his colleague’s sister, who was the firstborn. “So if somebody in a group says that that’s offensive to me, I won’t say it anymore.”

Rife clarified the role of a comedian: “The only thing we’re supposed to do up there is make you laugh, right? And if we can push a perspective like Chappelle is so good at doing, by all means, do that in a humorous way. But other than that, we don’t mean anything we say.” He stressed the importance of context, comparing a comedian’s actions on stage to a football player tackling someone versus a civilian doing the same. “It comes with the context of the job.”

Passionate Fans and Unforgettable Encounters

Discussing his predominantly female fanbase, Rife acknowledged the intense passion he receives. “People will flash at a show from time to time like a bra on stage. Yeah. A girl People People bring gifts all the time. A lady brought me a jar full of her hair.” He recounted a particularly wild experience from his first meet-and-greet: “Lady bit my nipple. Like what? I give everybody a hug obviously and she was about nipple height. Latched right on. Drool. I had to like peel her off of me.” While acknowledging the unusual nature of these interactions, Rife embraces the fervor: “I’ll take the passion, right? I would rather have super highs and super lows than just kind of, you know, intermediate the entire.”

When Sharpe compared him to Drake, Rife responded, “I don’t know. That’s a great comparison.” He humorously added, “All my fans are overage.” He also took the opportunity to weigh in on past celebrity feuds, stating, “I was team Drake over the beef. Just saying. I’m going to go on record right now.” He concluded by inviting Drake to join him on ‘Club Shay Shay’ if he’s in Toronto.

Source: Matt Rife On Owning 85 Acres In Rhode Island: “Peaceful” I CLUB SHAY SHAY (YouTube)