Brian Johnson, the social media personality known as the “Liver King,” was arrested in Austin, Texas, Tuesday night after posting a string of unhinged videos that included a challenge to podcaster Joe Rogan and apparent threats that prompted police intervention.
Johnson, 47, was booked into Travis County Jail at 8:31 p.m. and charged with a misdemeanor count of making a terroristic threat, according to public records.
Why was Liver King arrested?
Johnson had spent the previous 48 hours posting increasingly erratic videos to his Instagram page. In one clip, he paces around a room with meditation music playing, repeatedly referencing “going to prison,” being “arrested,” and issuing a challenge to fight Rogan.
Shortly before his arrest, Johnson—dressed in a tactical vest, sweatpants, and hoodie—is seen attempting to pocket a utility knife while his cameraman warns him not to bring it along. Footage shows officers detaining him outside what appears to be a hotel, as his wife, Bozena “Barbara” Johnson, watches.
The Austin Police Department has not yet released an official statement, and it remains unclear whether Johnson’s public taunts or other behavior directly triggered the arrest.
The Joe Rogan challenge: What happened?
In multiple videos, Johnson aggressively called out Joe Rogan, who resides in Austin and owns the Mothership comedy club.
“Joe Rogan, I’m calling you out, my name’s Liver King. Man to man, I’m picking a fight with you,” Johnson said in one clip, wearing a wolf pelt. “Your rules. I’ll come to you. Whenever you’re ready.”
At one point, he holds up a black ammo can with The Joe Rogan Experience logo and claims it should be delivered to Rogan’s club if he’s arrested. His sons are seen helping him prepare for what he calls a “fight for the family,” even joking that the hotel Wi-Fi password is “F–k Joe Rogan.”
Despite Johnson’s repeated public taunts, Rogan has never hosted him on his podcast. However, Rogan has discussed Johnson—particularly after the influencer’s steroid use scandal came to light.
Who is the “Liver King”?
Brian Johnson rose to fame promoting a controversial “ancestral living” lifestyle, including a raw organ meat diet of animal liver, testicles, and fertilised eggs. His videos often featured intense workouts, shirtless rants, and primal gimmicks.
He claimed to have built his physique solely through this barbarian-esque lifestyle. But in late 2022, leaked emails revealed he was spending over $11,000 a month on steroids—a fact he initially denied. He later admitted to using testosterone and human growth hormone.
“I lied,” Johnson said in a YouTube confession video. “I regret it.”
His rise and fall became the subject of the 2024 Netflix documentary “Untold: The Liver King”, which chronicled his supplement empire and the fallout from the steroid scandal.
Why the “terroristic threat” charge?
Under Texas law, a “terroristic threat” doesn’t have to involve terrorism in the conventional sense. It can include threats perceived to place individuals or the public in fear of serious harm.
Johnson’s behavior—erratic videos, reference to weapons, and talk of being arrested—combined with his travel to Austin (home to his self-declared opponent, Rogan) may have alarmed authorities enough to act.
Still, as of this writing, law enforcement has not clarified whether the charge was related to his statements about Rogan, the knife, or other off-camera conduct.
What happens next?
Johnson has not publicly commented since his arrest, though his Instagram remains active, with the arrest footage still viewable. It’s unclear if he has retained legal representation or posted bail.
The case adds another bizarre chapter to the saga of an influencer who built a health empire on primal living—but now finds himself behind bars.
TL;DR
Brian “Liver King” Johnson was arrested in Austin on June 25 and charged with making a terroristic threat. The arrest followed a series of bizarre videos in which he called out Joe Rogan to fight, spoke about going to jail, and attempted to carry a utility knife. Police have not confirmed the direct cause of the arrest. Johnson, known for promoting raw organ meat diets and intense workouts, previously admitted to using steroids despite marketing himself as drug-free.
