Brian Johnson, better known as the self-proclaimed “Liver King,” was arrested on charges of making terroristic threats toward podcast host and UFC commentator Joe Rogan.
Johnson’s arrest after traveling to Austin, Texas, where Rogan lives, follows a series of bizarre social media videos that sent the influencer’s already shaky reputation into a full meat-sweat meltdown.
What happened?
According to reports, Austin police arrested Johnson, 46, at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Austin. Johnson is currently being held in Travis County Jail on a $20,000 bond. The charge is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas. Still, it’s the nature of Johnson’s alleged threats and his increasingly erratic behavior that have observers raising their eyebrows.
Meat, madness, martial arts
According to arrest records and footage circulating online, Johnson appeared in a series of videos over the weekend where he issued what he framed as a “man-to-man” challenge to Rogan — one that involved zero training, ample rage, and unhinged theatrics.
Wearing tactical gear and pelts (because, of course, he was), the influencer waved around knives and ammunition while calling out Rogan for a jiu-jitsu match.
“Joe Rogan, I’m calling you out,” Johnson growled in one clip, “You’re a black belt. I’m not. Let’s do this anyway.” He then went on to suggest that he would make Rogan “pay,” though the exact reason remained unclear.
Police say Rogan, a longtime critic of Johnson, contacted authorities directly after being made aware of the videos, which he considered threatening.
From steroid scandal to jail cell
Johnson, who built his empire on “ancestral living,” including raw organ meat, bone marrow smoothies, and a strict no-shirt policy, has been no stranger to controversy. After amassing millions of followers and launching a supplement empire, he was exposed in 2022 for secretly spending over $11,000 a month on steroids and human growth hormone, despite repeatedly claiming he was “all natural.”
That scandal, combined with his larger-than-life persona and continued public stunts, has left many wondering whether the Liver King was just another loud wellness grifter or a man spiraling out in real time. Netflix’s 2025 documentary Untold: The Liver King reignited interest in his rise and fall, but his latest stunt may have finally cooked his career for good.
Rogan beef raw
The Liver King vs. Joe Rogan beef has simmered for years, with Rogan regularly mocking Johnson’s inflated physique and calling him out for steroid use long before the receipts surfaced. But while the spat had remained relatively harmless until now, Johnson’s public threats took things to a whole new level — and may have landed him in legal hot water he can’t just lift his way out of.
What was once a war of words is now a criminal case, and Johnson’s team has yet to release a formal statement. His family, meanwhile, is reportedly concerned for his well-being, and insiders say a mental health assessment may be in the works. Maybe next time, the Liver King should skip the raw spleen and consider a helping of common sense.
Published: Jun 25, 2025 11:51 am