What was Matt Brown’s relationship with his immediate family?
There was a long distance between Matt and his family. However, in a 2021 Instagram video re-shared by The Sun, he said he was able to “reconcile” with his father Billy before the patriarch died from a stroke that year.
And in a 2024 TikTok, Baer and Matt gave an update on the Brown family’s position.
“The whole thing with Matt is very difficult,” Bear explained. “It’s not something I want to talk about, it’s not something I want to deal with. But I just want to say this: Matt is doing well. He’s much better than he has been and he just doesn’t want to interact with his family these days.”
Despite this estrangement, Matt’s family has many fond memories of him.
“Matt was intelligent, curious, creative, and endlessly fascinated by the world around him,” the Browns said in a statement to Us Weekly. “He was a talented outdoorsman who felt most comfortable on the water, in the great outdoors, or sharing what he learned with others. He was an accomplished fisherman, an experienced boatman, and served as a radar operator on our family boat. He loved adventure and never stopped exploring new ideas.”
Matt had an “extraordinary intellect,” an artistic talent and a deep compassion for others, his family said. “Those who truly know Matt know his heart,” they added. “He was compassionate, generous with his time and genuinely wanted to help others.”
