Skip to main content
BoF Logo

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Exclusive: The Story Behind E.l.f.’s Controversial Matt Rife Campaign

The beauty brand’s chief marketing officer Kory Marchisotto spoke to The Business of Beauty about the ad and its aftermath. “There is a big gap between our intention and how this missed the mark for some people,” she said.
E.l.f. Beauty's "E.l.f.ino & Schmarnes" campaign featuring comedian Matt Rife and drag queen Heidi N Closet.
E.l.f. Beauty's "E.l.f.ino & Schmarnes" campaign featuring comedian Matt Rife and drag queen Heidi N Closet. (E.l.f. Beauty)

E.l.f. Cosmetics’ ads usually make a splash. The affordable cosmetics maker has decried the lack of gender parity in the boardroom with a sketch campaign called

Please sign in to ensure you can read our agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice. Or get in touch at support@businessoffashion.com if you experience difficulties.

Further Reading

The Important Message Behind ‘So Many Dicks’

A genius marketing campaign from E.l.f. Beauty this week emphasised how diversity, equity and inclusion efforts can be done at the highest levels — and what the barriers are to making substantial progress.

About the author
Haley Crawford
Haley Crawford

Haley Crawford is Marketing Correspondent at The Business of Fashion. She is based in New York and covers the marketing and public relations industries.

In This Article

© 2026 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Beauty
Analysis and advice on the fast-evolving beauty business.

Can Mikayla Nogueira Sell Fragrance, Too?

The beauty influencer is hoping her 20 million-strong following can cut through the category’s oversaturation with Only Sunshine, a tropical scent launched with indie brand Snif.


Ulta Beauty Joins TikTok Shop

Ulta Beauty becomes the first US specialty beauty retailer to launch on TikTok Shop, making the case for partnership rather than competition with the platform’s beauty e-commerce business.


view more
Latest News & Analysis
Unrivalled, world class journalism across fashion, luxury and beauty industries.

Who Won Fashion’s Red Carpet Season of Change

Sunday night’s Oscars concluded an awards season that fashion’s biggest labels used to show off their new creative game. BoF breaks down what we learned about brands’ celebrity strategies.


VIEW MORE
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON