Matt Brown’s Brother Confirms ‘Alaskan Bush People’ Star’s Cause of Death After His Body was Recovered From River [WATCH]

Bear Brown has confirmed that his brother, Matt Brown, known from “Alaskan Bush People,” has died by suicide, as reported by Page Six.

The emotional statement from Bear came in a TikTok video posted on Saturday after growing concern over Matt’s well-being following a disturbing livestream he shared on YouTube.

According to Bear, their youngest brother, Noah Brown, discovered Matt’s body in the Okanogan River in Washington and was the one to identify him.

‘Alaskan Bush People’ star Matt Brown was found dead in a Washington state river. He was 42.

His brother, Bear, confirmed the discovery on TikTok, saying his brother, Noah, identified Matt’s body.Matt had stepped away from the Discovery Channel show in 2019 amid addiction… pic.twitter.com/qDxtLu6Lmi— Fox News Entertainment (@FoxNewsEnt) June 1, 2026

“I didn’t think he would hurt himself. It does look like the injury is self-inflicted,” Bear said in the video.

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“Obviously, the coroner has to look at him and stuff, but I thought you guys should know it is him.”

Bear urged viewers to treat the Brown family with compassion and avoid leaving harmful messages during such a painful time.

“Sometimes words can hurt more than fists can, and a lot of people left negative comments on Matt’s stuff too,” he said. “One of his last videos, he’s actually talking about how negative people were on his posts.”

He reminded his followers that social media posts come from real people dealing with real emotions. “You guys should keep in mind that people on the other side of your screens, people you’re watching a video of, they’re real people too,” he added.

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A few days earlier, in another TikTok post on Thursday, Bear had opened up about his brother’s long struggle with addiction. He said Matt “has been struggling for a long time with alcohol and with drugs,” yet insisted the family did not “shun” him.

Bear explained that the distance came because Matt “didn’t want anything to do with the family.” He shared that the last time they saw each other was unexpectedly at a Walmart, where Matt confided that he had “fallen off the wagon.”

Bear said he encouraged his brother to seek help again through rehab. He also noted that Matt had recently been “going through a really bad breakup” with “a girl he really liked.”

“I guess he had been drinking too much. I don’t know all the details to it,” Bear said. His comments painted a picture of pain and struggle that had been building over time.

@bearthekingofextreme Matt update… #alaskanbushpeople #thelifeofbear #fyp #bearthekingofextreme @Noah Brown ♬ original sound – Bear Brown

Worries about Matt’s mental state had intensified earlier in the month after a troubling YouTube livestream. In that video, he appeared nude, spoke incoherently, and carried what seemed to be a firearm, sparking alarm from fans.

Matt Brown was known to viewers as one of the stars of Discovery Channel’s reality series “Alaskan Bush People,” which aired from 2014 to 2019. The show followed the Brown family — parents Billy and Ami and their seven children — as they lived off the grid in remote wilderness settings.

The series attracted a loyal audience for its portrayal of rugged family life in isolation. Matt’s passing has now left fans mourning a figure who once embodied endurance and resilience but struggled privately with addiction and heartbreak.

Bear’s message struck a tone of grief mixed with appeal, asking fans to reflect on empathy and kindness in their online interactions. His call for compassion resonated strongly with viewers reacting to the devastating news.

For anyone affected by the issues raised in Bear’s message, help is available through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

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