Bear Brown, star of the reality series Alaskan Bush People, announced on TikTok on Friday, May 29, 2026, that his estranged older brother Matt Brown is presumed dead after a river incident.
According to Bear, witnesses reported seeing a man matching Matt's description floating down a river the previous night.
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The family estimates there is a 99 percent likelihood that the person was the 43-year-old Matt Brown.
Authorities have been actively searching the area but have not yet recovered a body.
In a video broadcast, Bear expressed uncertainty about the absolute confirmation of the tragedy.
"I wanted to start out by saying that I can't confirm that it's a hundred percent true right now, but it is what I'm hearing," he said.
He added that he was told Matt took his own life late last night and that witnesses saw him in or near a river and floating downstream.
The family noted that Matt Brown had long battled substance abuse issues involving drugs and alcohol.
Bear recounted his final encounters with his brother before a trip to Florida.
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"Before I left for Florida, I actually ran into him in Walmart, and we talked for a few minutes, and that was the last time I saw him," Bear said.
"And he called me after that, and he said that he had fallen off the wagon."
Bear encouraged his brother to get back on track and seek rehab if needed. That was their last conversation.
The family also revealed that Matt was experiencing a severe relationship breakup prior to the incident.
Bear asked the public to maintain boundaries and protect their mother, Ami Brown, from online hostility.
"Mom cares very much for Matt and always has and has been through a lot for him," Bear said.
"So please don't attack my mom."
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In a subsequent social media update, Bear clarified that recent internet accounts operating under Matt's name are entirely fraudulent.
