Why Matt Brown’s Relationship With His Siblings Was Never Simple — And What the Family Has Said

For fans who watched Alaskan Bush People from the beginning, the tension was always there. Behind the campfires and the wilderness survival segments, something more complicated was playing out between Matt Brown and the rest of his family — and it was never fully hidden from the cameras.

The Oldest, and the Most Isolated

Matt was the firstborn of Billy and Ami Brown, and for years he was one of the most recognizable faces on the show. But his relationship with his siblings — Bear, Gabe, Noah, Bam, Bird, and Rain — was rarely straightforward. While the family projected a united front for much of the series, Matt’s struggles increasingly set him apart in ways that proved difficult to bridge.

At the core of the tension was something the family never fully managed to address on screen: Matt’s battle with alcohol addiction, which he himself spoke about openly over the years. His siblings, by contrast, appeared to be moving forward — building homes, starting families, finding their footing. Matt was often visibly stuck.

Fired From the Show He Helped Build

Alaskan Bush People' Matt Brown Feared Dead by Family Amid Police Search For Unidentified Male

In 2018, Matt was fired from Alaskan Bush People following his substance abuse issues — a decision that effectively separated him from both the show and, in many ways, the family unit that the show had constructed around their shared life. While some of his siblings continued to appear on screen and grow their public profiles, Matt stepped away.

He later spoke in interviews about feeling like an outsider, about the difficulty of watching his family continue without him, and about the particular pain of struggling while others seemed to be thriving. He acknowledged that his behavior had consequences — but also that sobriety and reconciliation were things he was working toward.

The Accusations That Complicated Everything

In 2020, it emerged that Matt had been accused of raping two women. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office declined to file charges, but the allegations created a new layer of distance between Matt and the family’s public image — one that was never fully addressed on camera or in official statements.

His siblings, for the most part, maintained public silence on the specifics.

What the Family Said After His Death

Family of Matt Brown from ‘Alaskan Bush People’ reflect on his life and death

When Matt died in late May 2025, his family confirmed publicly that he had died by suicide. Noah Brown was among those who participated in the search and recovery effort — signing the release form that allowed volunteers to look for his brother, and standing at the riverbank when the boats came in.

Whatever complicated history existed between them, Noah showed up.

The memorial for Matt in Oroville, Washington continues to grow. The flowers on his truck, Max, are still being added to every day.