'Alaskan Bush People' Star Feared Dead

Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown is feared dead by his family, according to TMZ.

Matt's brother, Bear Brown, shared an update of sorts on TikTok.

"I'm being told that late last night that Matt took his own life," he said. "I can't confirm that that's true but witnesses say that he was seen in a river, at a river, or close to a river."

Bear explained that whomever saw Matt in the river alerted authorities.

@bearthekingofextreme

Really bad news about Matt #bearthekingofextreme#alaskanbushpeople#thelifeofbear#fyp

♬ original sound - Bear Brown

The Okanogan County Sheriff's Office told TMZ that a call did come in on Wednesday about a male in the shallow waters of the Okanogan River. A short while later, the body was reportedly seen floating away with the current. As of Friday, May 29, the body has not been found despite an ongoing search effort.

Many fans who follow Bear were upset by his TikTok video, suggesting he get confirmation about his brother before posting.

"If you can't confirm this is true, then YOU SHOULD NOT BE REPEATING IT," one person wrote.

"Why on earth would you say this if you weren't sure??" someone else asked.

About 10 days ago, Matt posted a livestream on YouTube, which you can see below.

After the video was posted, TMZ reported that the Brown family had cut ties with Matt due to his battle with alcohol addiction.

Matt and his family rose to fame on Discover Channel's The Alaskan Bush People, which aired from 2014 through 2022. Matt left the show in 2019 to seek treatment, according to The Sun.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 11:51 AM.