Will 'Alaskan Bush People' Star Matt Brown Return For The First Time Since He Disappeared From The Show?
The Brown family has been through so much together over the past 10 seasons of Alaskan Bush People. In the last year, they've had of plenty of reasons to celebrate: Noah and Gabe both got married, their wolfpack welcomed a new member, and there's another baby on the way. Still, between Ami's lung cancer diagnosis and the family's devastating move away from Alaska, the Browns have faced a lot of hardship as well. Amid those familial struggles, one of the Discovery stars was fighting a battle of his own.
Matt, the first-born son of Billy and Ami, is the most mysterious member of the Brown clan. From his struggles with substance abuse to his sudden disappearance from the show, fans have a lot of questions about the 37-year-old's life. Here's everything you need to know about Matt Brown.
Why did he go to rehab?
Matt first entered a rehab facility for alcohol abuse in 2016. He told People at the time that he'd started to notice himself "spiraling" after spending more time in Juneau, Alaska drinking with friends and making "bad choices." The reality star returned to rehab a second time in September 2018, explaining that "after a year of ups and downs" he hoped to have his "life back on track soon."
When Matt decided to seek treatment again, his family stood behind him.
"We miss him terribly, but we’d rather lose him from home for a little while than lose him forever," his father Billy said at the time. "We just want him to do what he needs to do to get better."
Two months later, representatives for Discovery confirmed to CountryLiving.com that Matt had left rehab and was receiving treatment at a nearby outpatient facility. After he completed six months of combined inpatient and outpatient rehab in January 2019, his family spoke out again.
"It was [Matt's] decision to drop everything and go fix what he hadn’t fixed," Billy said in February. "He's fighting a hard road. He has for a long time. We just try to let him know that family’s here no matter what."
By March 2019, things were looking up for Matt. He posted a photo to Instagram of a sobriety coin from the Betty Ford Center for addiction and revealed to his followers that after several months clean, "life just keeps getting better."
But wait, what happened to Matt on 'Alaskan Bush People?'
Fans have not seen Matt on Alaskan Bush People since season 8, as the Discovery star was dealing with his substance abuse issues while the show filmed its ninth and tenth seasons.
Where does he live?
While the rest of the Brown clan relocated to Washington, Matt moved to California where he underwent treatment at the Betty Ford Center for addiction. According to his Instagram (which often features sunny shots of palm trees), he still lives somewhere near Los Angeles—but the exact details of his living situation are unknown.
However, there are rumors that Matt might permanently reunite with his family in the near future.
Does he still talk to the rest of the Browns?
Because of Matt's issues with alcohol, he has reportedly had a strained relationship with his family members over the years. That being said, parents Ami and Billy have publicly supported him through several stints at rehab and his ongoing journey to recovery. Despite claims that he was exiled from the family, Matt has mentioned both of his parents and one of his brothers on Instagram in recent months—and he had nothing but nice things to say about them.
"Today is my brother Bear's birthday," Matt said in video posted on June 11. "So I wanted to say happy birthday little brother, I love you, and this Dr. Pepper is for you. Cheers!"
He shared another video in late August, this time to honor his mother: "I've been thinking about my mom all day and I'd really like to wish her a happy birthday. So happy birthday, Mom. I love you!"
Most recently, Matt shared a piece of original art and dedicated it to his father, Billy.
"I sketched this thinking about my Dad last night, and all the wonderful adventures we went on when I was a kid," he captioned the post.
While he has openly showed affection to his family on social media, Matt has not posted any photos of himself with the other Browns—but eagle-eyed fans speculate that he has secretly visited them recently.
So, is Matt coming back to 'Alaskan Bush People?'
There's no confirmation that Matt is returning to the show, but there have been some hints about a possible comeback on Instagram. In July, he posted photos of homemade candles from a company called Big Dipper Wax Works—which is a "small town" shop located in Washington, where his family lives.
A few days later, he shared a video of himself "taking in the peaceful view" at Lake Loomis, which is also in Washington. Fans were quick to point out that Matt's presence in his family's home state could mean that they're on good terms and he's going to appear on season 11 of Alaskan Bush People.
The show has not yet confirmed that it will be renewed for an eleventh season and producers haven't mentioned anything about Matt, but we'll keep our fingers crossed!
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