Brian Johnson, a social media influencer known as 鈥楲iver King鈥 was arrested on Tuesday following a series of videos he shared on Instagram in which he challenged podcaster Joe Rogan to a fight. In one video, the 47-year-old appeared to be holding guns.
Following the social media rant, fans had expressed concern about the influencer鈥檚 mental state. Johnson was charged with making a 鈥渢errorist threat鈥 and was booked into the Travis County Jail in Austin, Texas, Tuesday night, according to reports.
Who is the social media star and what is the controversy around him?
Brian Johnson, a former biochemistry student, is a fitness influencer who rose to fame by promoting an 鈥渁ncestral lifestyle鈥. This involves consuming a large amount of raw, unprocessed meat, including liver and testicles, as well as engaging in 鈥榤acho鈥 stunts, such as walking with 120lb of chains around his neck or sleeping on a bed made of wooden planks without a mattress.
The influencer claimed that his lifestyle led to peak human performance. He launched a company, Ancestral Supplements, selling products like 鈥淕rass Fed Dessicated Beef Liver Capsules鈥.
The business reportedly earned him a whopping $100 million (拢75 million) per year, turning Johnson into one of the most profitable influencers in the fitness world.
Johnson鈥檚 fate began to change when it was revealed that he was using steroids 鈥 something he had previously denied.
Johnson鈥檚 steroid use became public knowledge in December 2022, after an email leak showed that he had spent $11,000 a month on performance-enhancing drugs, contradicting the claims he had made about achieving his physique naturally.
The influencer suffered a colossal social media backlash. “I misled you,” he admitted in a tearful video. “I got caught up in the game, and I lied.”
The scandal prompted outrage among Johnson鈥檚 fans, with some filing a $25 million (拢19 million) lawsuit against him, accusing him of fraud and deception.
In May, Johnson was the subject of a Netflix documentary, Untold: The Liver King, which examines the influencer鈥檚 cataclysmic rise and fall, as well as the culture of toxic masculinity that surrounds him.
On Monday, the Liver King shared a video on Instagram, challenging Joe Rogan to an 鈥渉onourable鈥 fight.
He said in the video: 鈥淛oe Rogan, I’m calling you out, my name’s Liver King. Man to man, I’m picking a fight with you. I have no training in Jiu-jitsu, you’re a black belt, you should dismantle me. But I’m picking a fight with you. Your rules, I’ll come to you, whenever you’re ready.鈥
The following day, he shared another video. Liver King crawls on the floor, then challenges Joe Rogan again to a 鈥渕an to man鈥 fight.
On Wednesday, more videos were shared to the influencer’s Instagram account, including one that appears to feature his arrest.
Two people enter the room and tell Johnson that it鈥檚 time to leave, prompting him to rant about not having enough time to 鈥渟**t.鈥
The Liver King then ushers his family towards him for a group hug and prayer.
Joe Rogan has never hosted Johnson on his podcast, however he has discussed his steroid use.