Bear Brown has delivered a heartbreaking update about his troubled brother, Matt Brown — and it may be the family’s darkest moment yet.
The Alaskan Bush People star revealed in an emotional TikTok video that he fears Matt is “very likely” dead after witnesses reportedly saw a body floating down a Washington river.
Authorities have not confirmed the identity of the person seen in the water, and no body has been recovered. But Bear told fans the situation looks grim.
“It’s looking very likely,” Bear said, while admitting he could not say for certain that the man was his brother.
According to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 caller reported seeing a man sitting alone in the Okanogan River earlier this week. Moments later, the caller reportedly heard a sound, looked back, and saw the man facedown in the water, drifting away with the current.
Police later said a gun was found near the area.
The shocking development came just days after Matt sparked fresh concern among fans when he appeared nude during a YouTube livestream. Viewers speculated he may have been under the influence at the time.
Bear said multiple witnesses believe the person seen floating down the river was Matt.
“All the witnesses are saying that it was Matt,” he said. “Someone definitely did, and a lot of people are thinking that it’s him.”
Matt, who previously appeared on Alaskan Bush People, has long struggled with alcohol and drugs, according to Bear.
“He’s been struggling for a long time,” Bear told followers, adding that his brother had distanced himself from the family and at one point wanted nothing to do with them.
Bear said he had tried to encourage Matt to stay sober whenever they spoke.
One recent conversation came after the brothers unexpectedly crossed paths at a grocery store. Bear said Matt later called him and admitted he had “fallen off the wagon.”
Bear recalled telling him: “Get back on it, man. Everybody falls off. Just get back on it. Go to rehab if you’ve got to. You got this.”
Bear also claimed Matt had been dealing with a painful breakup with a woman he “really liked.”
“I guess he had been drinking too much,” Bear said. “I don’t know all the details to it.”
Still, Bear admitted he never expected things to end this way.
“I would’ve never thought that Matt would take his own life,” he said.
As fans wait for official word from authorities, Bear begged the public to be kind to the Brown family — especially their mother, Ami Brown.
“Please don’t blame her,” he said. “Mom cares very much for Matt and always has and has been through a lot for him. A lot.”
He added: “Please don’t attack my mom.”
