Entertainment

Did ‘Alaskan Bush People’ Sabotage Matt Brown’s Trip To Rehab?

Published on: July 8, 2016 at 11:48 AM
By Toni Matthews

The Brown family, stars of Alaskan Bush People , are at the center of yet another controversy. This time, onlookers are angry at them for ditching Alaska — and Ami Brown’s elderly mother — for sunny Hawaii.

As accusations regarding the timing and expenses of the Browns’ Hawaiian trip mounted, the Discovery Channel, spoke up in defense of the Alaskan Bush People cast — sort of. The video attempted to explain “the story of Billy and Ami’s past,” or at least the version of events given by the Brown couple. The problem is that certain claims made by the Browns or Alaskan Bush People aren’t always backed up by hard facts .

However, there’s something that may be more important that was overlooked about seeing the Browns in Hawaii. According to the Inquisitr , all the Browns were in Hawaii, and they were likely there to visit members of Billy Brown’s family . That includes Matt Brown, whose struggles with addiction will reportedly be openly discussed in upcoming episodes of Alaskan Bush People .

However, before the show could air, Matt sat for an exclusive with People , and the Alaskan TV star admitted his wariness at the person he was becoming — and that it was why he eventually sought treatment.

“‘I’ve always been able to handle city life, no problem,’ says Brown. ‘But I started hanging out with people who drank. They didn’t have a problem with it so while I was around them, I started drinking.’

“The eldest Brown child says he began to make ‘bad choices’; he chose to stop drinking but picked up the habit again in the past year.

“‘I started drinking lightly and then it got to be more and more,’ he says. ‘That’s when I saw the problem around the corner, and I didn’t want to be one of those guys.’”

Matt decided to tell his family about his concerns, and with their love and support, he checked into rehab during the spring. The in-patient rehab center was Brown’s home for 35 days, after which it seems he was ready to reunite with the “Wolf Pack.” Matt also insists that though he went to rehab for drinking-related concerns, he’s not an alcoholic.

While it’s commendable that Matt Brown sought out help, there are some who are skeptical of his claims. For instance, Matt claims that he began to experience problems with alcohol during the period between Season 1 and 2 of Alaskan Bush People . However, someone by the name of Tanya claimed to know Matt and his ex-girlfriend. She made the following comment to Reality TV Scandals .

[Image via ‘Reality TV Scandals’]

This rumor apparently goes back before Matt’s rehab or even Radar Online’s exclusive report that the Alaskan Bush People star had opted for treatment in the first place. If the rumor is revealed to be true at some point, it’s also a very worrying revelation for a few reasons.

First, it would mean that Matt has been struggling with addiction for much longer than what he shared with People . He and the ex-girlfriend (whose name was withheld due to the nature of the rumor), dated well before Alaskan Bush People first aired. Second, if Tanya meant that Matt used drugs in addition to alcohol, it could mean that he needs help for abuse of multiple substances.

Lastly, it would strongly suggest that Matt is projecting the image that everything was solved in just under a month, despite the very possibility that it isn’t true. Addiction often brings stigma and a fear of being judged. Is it possible that Matt is projecting this image of beating his demons because it would look good for the Alaskan Bush People series?

If Matt Brown’s issues with alcohol are much more problematic than he’s led on, we’ll no doubt be hearing more about it in the future — both on Alaskan Bush People and in the news. However, it’s truly concerning to think that the reality TV star might have felt pressured to reassure everyone and rejoin Alaskan Bush People so that the show can continue without missing a cast member.

Do you believe reality TV life on Alaskan Bush People might have interfered with Matt Brown’s treatment needs? Please share your thoughts below!

[Image via the Discovery Channel]

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