Who is the Liver King? Meet Brian Johnson, the recently arrested raw organ-eating influencer
Brian Johnson, known online as the ¡°Liver King,¡± built a massive following by promoting raw organ meat diets and extreme workouts. But after posting threats aimed at Joe Rogan, he was arrested in Austin. Here¡¯s a closer look at who he is, what he believes, and why he¡¯s in trouble.
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?
The man behind the raw meat lifestyle
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.
A real man takes his spear to aim, bf he takes his fork to eat.
¡ª Liver King (@liverking) January 27, 2024
In the wild and warmth, the flavor of ¡°success¡± is revealed.
Not in having, but in earning.
And it brands a smile deep into the center of the soul.
Life just tastes better when you bleed!
And the bounty renews.
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.
Controversy and the arrest of the ¡®Liver King¡¯ Brian Johnson
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.
NEW: ¡®Liver King¡¯ arrested for traveling to Austin, Texas after making threats against Joe Rogan on social media.
¡ª Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 25, 2025
Brian Johnson faces one charge of Terroristic Threat.
Johnson was seen on all fours like a monkey in a video posted shortly before he traveled to Austin.
Johnson¡ pic.twitter.com/bF8gtkXiug
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.