Overview
- A public Instagram exchange on Friday, Aug. 7, shows Matt Rife replying to paranormal investigator Chris Mac by calling him a "lifeless douchebag" and saying "please remove yourself from this earth," according to screengrabs published by TMZ.
- Chris Mac, who has said he is autistic, and his father Kevin Mac have publicly demanded a formal apology and described the comment as unprovoked and devastating to their son.
- Additional screengrabs from the same thread allege Rife told another social media user to "unalive" herself at least twice, widening criticism of his conduct in the comments.
- Rife and collaborator Elton Castee purchased and operate the Haunted Warren Museum and charge up to $166 for some events, a practice that has already drawn ire from members of the paranormal community who say the site should not be commercialized.
- An unnamed source close to Rife told TMZ that he is routinely bullied online and that some comments were deleted, leaving context disputed, but Rife has not publicly apologized or issued a detailed rebuttal and the screenshots remain the primary evidence reported so far.