When Lawrence was cast in the role, Toby Goldstein of TimesDaily noted that Matt was "likely to bring misery to Nick and Sharon's lives". Global TV's Aaron Hagey-MacKay included the character's death on a list of the "Top drunken, brutal, mysterious and volcanic deaths of Y&R".
Toby Goldstein from TimesDaily noted that Matt was likely to cause discomfort in Nick and Sharon's lives when Lawrence took on the role. Global TV's Aaron Hagey-MacKay included the character's demise as one of the "Most drunken, violent, enigmatic, and dramatic endings for Y&R characters".