Brian Johnson, better known as the ¡°Liver King,¡± became famous online for his extreme health routines and ancestral lifestyle built around raw meat, organ consumption, and intense workouts. With nearly 3 million followers on Instagram, he grew into a controversial but widely recognised name in the fitness world.
But this week, Johnson made headlines for a very different reason, his arrest in Texas after police said he posted threatening videos targeting popular podcaster Joe Rogan. His actions shocked even his fans, prompting many to ask: Who really is the Liver King?
Before his viral fame, Brian Johnson was a businessman. He built a supplement and nutrition empire that sold products meant to support what he calls the ¡°ancestral lifestyle.¡± That includes eating raw liver, heart, and bone marrow, often straight out of a cooler on camera.
?His message? Modern lifestyles are making people weak, and returning to primal behaviours can restore strength. It¡¯s a brand that¡¯s brought him millions of fans, but also strong criticism from health experts and sceptics alike.
His story was even featured in a Netflix documentary called Untold: The Liver King, which dug into his rise to fame and questioned the truth behind his image.
Johnson¡¯s lifestyle wasn¡¯t the only thing that raised eyebrows. In 2022, leaked emails revealed he was using steroids despite claiming his ripped physique came naturally. He later admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, apologising to fans.
?This week, things escalated. In videos posted on Instagram, Johnson called out Joe Rogan, challenging him to a fight and saying he was ¡°willing to die¡± in the process. Rogan, who has previously mocked Johnson¡¯s claims on his podcast, had never interacted with him personally.
Austin police arrested Johnson at the Four Seasons Hotel on Tuesday evening. He was charged with making a terroristic threat, a class B misdemeanour.