“Liver King,” a raw meat influencer, was arrested for threatening Joe Rogan after the well-known podcaster revealed his use of steroids. After sharing insane videos of himself wielding gold-plated firearms, Brian Johnson, who created a $100 million supplement company advocating “ancestral living,” is facing severe charges. The perilous side of celebrity feuds and false information in the wellness sector is exposed by this dramatic altercation between two health influencers.
The Arrest That Shocked Fitness Followers
Brian Johnson, widely known as the “Liver King” for his promotion of raw organ meat consumption, was taken into custody in Austin, Texas, on charges of making “terroristic threats” against podcast giant Joe Rogan. Johnson was booked into Travis County Jail and is being held without bond following a series of increasingly erratic social media posts directly targeting Rogan.
Liver King (Brian Johnson) has been arrested in Austin for alleged terroristic threats, adding a shocking turn to his controversial public image.
Read More: https://t.co/FypG5G1HGo #LiverKing #JoeRogan #Controversy #FitnessInfluencer #TerroristicThreats #AustinTexas pic.twitter.com/NGUfm73j3C
— IBTimes UK (@IBTimesUK) June 25, 2025
The arrest comes after Johnson appeared in several disturbing videos, including one where he displayed gold-plated firearms while making incoherent rants about Rogan. This escalation follows years of tension between the two figures, with Johnson blaming Rogan for damaging his supplement business after the podcaster discussed Johnson’s steroid use scandal.
LIVER KING POSTED FOOTAGE OF HIM BEING ARRESTED
Allegedly he is being arrested for threats towards Joe Rogan.
pic.twitter.com/wRLwFMsJZp— DramaAlert (@DramaAlert) June 25, 2025
Johnson’s entire brand was built around his muscular physique, supposedly achieved through his “ancestral lifestyle” of consuming raw organs and following primitive living principles. Leaked emails in 2022 revealed Johnson was spending $11,000 monthly on performance-enhancing drugs, directly contradicting his natural claims and sparking widespread criticism from followers who purchased his supplements.
A History of Controversy and Legal Issues
This isn’t Johnson’s first brush with legal problems, as he was recently fined in Poland for carrying ammunition through an airport. Johnson has faced mounting credibility issues since the steroid revelation, including a $25 million class action lawsuit from customers who claimed his natural fitness claims defrauded them, though the suit was eventually dropped.
The self-proclaimed “CEO of the ancestral lifestyle” has recently resurfaced in public consciousness thanks to a Netflix documentary examining his rise and controversial business practices. Johnson’s supplements and “primal lifestyle” advice generated a reported $100 million empire despite medical professionals consistently warning about the dangers of consuming raw meat and organs.
Austin police reportedly acted on the threatening social media posts after Johnson’s behavior became increasingly concerning, with the fitness influencer directly challenging Rogan to a physical confrontation. The arrest highlights growing concerns about social media personalities’ responsibility when wielding influence over millions of followers in health and wellness spaces.
The Fallout for Health Influencers
Johnson’s downfall began when Rogan’s massive platform amplified revelations about the Liver King’s steroid use, exposing the contradiction between his natural lifestyle claims and actual practices. The supplements Johnson sells under his “Ancestral Supplements” brand command premium prices based on claims that they deliver the benefits of his primal lifestyle, promises many consumers now view with deep skepticism.
Rogan, who hosts one of the world’s most popular podcasts with an estimated 11 million listeners per episode, has not publicly commented on Johnson’s arrest. The podcaster has frequently criticized health misinformation and fake natural claims in the fitness industry, making Johnson’s deception particularly noteworthy to Rogan’s audience.
The dramatic arrest has ignited conversations about authenticity in the health and wellness industry, where influencers can build massive followings and lucrative businesses through unverified claims. Conservative consumers have long valued personal responsibility and transparency in business, making Johnson’s deception particularly troubling to many who initially supported his message of self-reliance and rejection of modern processed foods.