It started like something out of a bizarre action movie, but this real-life story involves raw meat, wild accusations, a fitness influencer in meltdown mode—and a very confused Joe Rogan.
Brian Johnson, better known as the “Liver King,” found himself in handcuffs after what can only be described as an unhinged mission to confront the podcast giant in Austin, Texas.
Let’s break down what happened.
From Raw Meat Fame to Arrest in Austin
Brian Johnson rose to internet fame by promoting an “ancestral” lifestyle built around eating raw liver and lifting heavy things.
With over 2.9 million followers on Instagram, he became a fitness cult icon—until it all came crashing down in 2022 when he was outed for secretly using steroids.
One of the people who publicly called him out? Joe Rogan.
Fast forward to this week, Johnson took that criticism and spiraled into what appears to be a full-blown social media meltdown, fixated on confronting Rogan directly.
The Journey to Confront Joe Rogan
Over several days, Johnson posted erratic videos chronicling his trip to Austin.
He said he wanted to be invited on Rogan’s podcast—but when the invite never came, his tone shifted.
He started challenging Rogan to a fight, saying, “You have a black belt, I have no training… you should dismantle me.”
He then danced shirtless while wearing a wolf’s head and added, “You can’t pick a fight with a real king and expect there not to be a fight.”
To top it all off, Johnson posted a video holding a Rogan-branded box with a knife and later, an axe. “We come bearing gifts,” he said ominously.
At this point, fans and followers began expressing serious concern for his mental state.
Arrested in Austin for Making Threats
Things reached a breaking point on Tuesday night.
Johnson had arrived in Austin, posted more concerning videos—including one from the Four Seasons shower—and admitted he’d had contact with police.
“I’m not threatening to kill anybody… Who have I picked a fight with? Joe Rogan,” he said in a chaotic rant.
“I hope none of this is perceived as a threat… but f*** you Joe Rogan.”
Not long after, Johnson was arrested by Austin police and charged with making “terroristic threats,” a Class B misdemeanor.
His wife posted a video showing the moment he was searched and placed in a patrol car.
His bail was set at $20,000.
A History of Chaos and a Netflix Spotlight
This isn’t Johnson’s first brush with legal trouble.
He also referenced a past incident in Poland, where he was arrested at Krakow Airport for trying to board a private jet with ammunition in his bag.
That ended with a fine—but left him, according to his own words, with “PTSD.”
In a separate rant, Johnson talked about a health scare from last Thanksgiving, suggesting a CT scan revealed something “in dire straits.”
What sparked this return to the spotlight? Likely the new Netflix documentary Untold: The Liver King, which dives into his extreme lifestyle, supplement empire, and the fallout from his steroid scandal.
Rogan and the Fallout from the Steroid Scandal
Johnson’s feud with Rogan traces back to the steroid scandal, when Rogan said it was obvious Johnson was juicing.
“There’s no way someone his age gets that jacked without hormone therapy,” Rogan claimed.
It seems that accusation stuck with Johnson—and now, years later, it’s exploded into a bizarre and potentially dangerous obsession.
Where Things Stand Now
With Johnson currently facing legal trouble and his fans increasingly worried, it’s unclear what’s next for the Liver King.
His arrest capped off a chaotic week of shirtless dances, cryptic videos, and erratic behavior.
If nothing else, this episode highlights the intense pressure and scrutiny that can come with social media fame—and how quickly things can spiral when fame, ego, and unresolved anger mix.