Brian Johnson, the self-styled social media fitness personality known as the “Liver King,” was arrested Tuesday in Austin, Texas, after allegedly making “terroristic” threats directed at podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan, according to local authorities.
Johnson, 47, who gained internet fame for his muscular physique and advocacy for an “ancestral lifestyle” that includes consuming raw meat, was taken into custody at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Austin without incident, the Austin Police Department confirmed. He has been charged with making a Terroristic Threat, a Class B misdemeanor under Texas law.
The arrest follows a string of aggressive social media posts Johnson allegedly made on Instagram to his 2.9 million followers, in which he repeatedly challenged Rogan to a physical confrontation. Detectives said they were notified around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, about threatening posts that included Johnson declaring his intention to travel to Austin—where Rogan is based—and “pick a fight” with him.
“Detectives reviewed the posts and observed that Johnson was traveling to Austin while continuing to make threatening statements,” a police spokesperson said in a statement. “Detectives contacted Mr. Rogan, who stated he had never had any interaction with Johnson and considered the posts to be threatening.”
Based on that assessment, investigators secured an arrest warrant for Johnson. At approximately 5:59 p.m., Austin police officers located him at the Four Seasons Hotel and placed him under arrest. He was transported to Travis County Jail and booked on the misdemeanor charge.
One of the Instagram videos that triggered the investigation, posted on Monday, June 23, features Johnson directly calling out Rogan. “Joe Rogan, I’m calling you out, my name’s Liver King,” he says. “Man to man, I’m picking a fight with you. I have no training in jiu-jitsu, 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.”
In a separate video from the same day, Johnson appears to embrace the possibility of a violent outcome. “You never come across something like this—willing to die, hoping that you’ll choke me out, because that’s a dream come true,” he says.
Videos posted to Johnson’s Instagram account on Tuesday depict him preparing for what appears to be a prearranged arrest. In one clip, he’s shown grooming himself and drinking espresso in a hotel room. In another, his wife Bozena “Barbara” Johnson is seen heading to the lobby just before he is shown in handcuffs being escorted into a police car.
Rogan has not publicly responded to the incident, and a representative for the podcaster did not immediately return a request for comment. Efforts to reach Johnson’s company for comment were also unsuccessful.
Johnson became a controversial figure in the online fitness community after building a multimillion-dollar business around his “ancestral tenets,” which include raw organ meat consumption, intense physical training, and a rejection of modern comforts. His popularity exploded thanks to his viral videos and the now-notorious image of his heavily muscled physique.
However, Johnson’s brand took a major hit in late 2022 when he was exposed for using anabolic steroids—despite long claiming his body was entirely the result of natural living. The scandal, which led to widespread criticism and backlash, was the subject of the May 2025 Netflix documentary Untold: The Liver King. The film explores Johnson’s rise to fame, the steroid controversy, and the impact it had on his family and business empire.
The recent incident marks yet another strange chapter in Johnson’s public saga, one that now includes potential criminal consequences. If convicted of making a terroristic threat, Johnson could face up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Legal analysts say that while Class B misdemeanors are often resolved through probation or community service, the high-profile nature of the case—and the public safety concerns involved—could influence how prosecutors approach sentencing.
“This isn’t just a barroom argument captured on video,” said one former prosecutor familiar with Texas law. “When someone makes public threats and shows up in the same city as their target, law enforcement has to take it seriously—especially when there’s an element of unpredictability and a large social media following involved.”
Johnson has not yet released a formal statement addressing his arrest. As of Wednesday morning, his Instagram account remained active, though comments on recent posts appeared to be restricted.
Whether the arrest was a misguided publicity stunt, a genuine mental health crisis, or something else entirely remains unclear. But as the legal process unfolds, the saga of the Liver King continues to blur the line between influencer theatrics and real-world consequences.
