Wellness Influencer ‘Liver King' Arrested After Posting A Series Of Videos Aimed At Joe Rogan
Wellness influencer Brian Johnson, 47, known to his millions of followers as the 'Liver King,' was arrested Tuesday and accused of making threats against popular podcaster and former MMA fighter Joe Rogan in a series of videos posted on his Instagram page.
'Joe Rogan, I'm calling you out, my name's Liver King. Man to man, I'm picking a fight with you,' Johnson said, holding two rifles in a video posted Monday. 'I have no training in jiujitsu; 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.'
Much of Johnson's Liver King content revolves around advising fitness enthusiasts to build a body like his through questionable practices like eating raw animal testicles or, as the name alludes to, raw liver. In 2022, leaked emails revealed that he had been spending approximately $11,000 a month injecting himself with steroids and human growth hormone.
Johnson was highlighted in the Netflix documentary series 'Untold: The Liver King,' which came out this year.
He made other concerning videos leading up to his arrest, many of which show him rambling.
Austin police told HuffPost they were notified of Johnson's alleged threats Tuesday morning, and observed him traveling to Austin while continuing to challenge Rogan online.
It's unclear why Johnson posted a series of videos challenging Rogan. He told the podcaster in a follow-up video, 'I actually have something to fight for' and 'We'll see you soon. Real tension I have with you. Real fucking beef.'
Rogan has hosted well-known celebrities and figures on his podcast, 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' but has never had Johnson on his show. Austin police said Rogan told them that the two had never interacted, and that he considered the posts threatening.
The podcaster had criticized Johnson's steroid use and his general demeanor in an episode released two years ago with fitness influencer Derek, known for the brand 'More Plates, More Dates.'
'The guy calls himself the Liver King, and he's this guy who walks around everywhere with no shirt on. I've seen him in Vegas with no shirt on, big bushy beard, super jacked, and he was telling people that the way he gets that way is by sunning his balls,' Rogan said.
Austin police arrested Johnson on Tuesday at the Four Seasons Hotel and took him into custody without incident on a misdemeanor charge of terroristic threat. It's unclear if the wellness influencer has an attorney representing him.
Video posted on Johnson's account shows him wearing a burgundy sweatsuit promoting a fight between him and Rogan as he paces around a hotel room rambling with his wife, Bozena 'Barbara' Johnson aka the 'Liver Queen.' He was later seen being patted down by officers while in handcuffs.
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