Brian Johnson, the fitness influencer known as the "Liver King," was arrested Tuesday in Austin, Texas, for making terroristic threats against popular podcaster Joe Rogan.
Netflix star Johnson, 47, faces a misdemeanor charge after traveling to Rogan’s hometown and publicly challenging him to a fight.
According to Austin Police, Johnson posted several threatening videos on social media directed at Rogan, prompting law enforcement to act.
Highlights
- The "Liver King" fitness influencer was arrested in Austin for terroristic threats against Joe Rogan after publicly challenging him to a fight.
- Johnson posted multiple threatening videos en route to Rogan's hometown, prompting police to obtain an arrest warrant.
- Joe Rogan had no prior interaction with Johnson and considered the threats serious, leading to police action.
The Liver King was arrested for making terroristic threats against Joe Rogan
Image credits: Jeff Bottari/Getty Images
In one video shared Monday, Johnson said: “Joe Rogan, I’m calling you out, my name’s Liver King. Man to man, I’m picking a fight with you.”
He added: “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.”
Johnson continued posting videos as he traveled to Austin, where Rogan lives.
In one video, he said: “Joe Rogan, we don’t have to make videos to pretend anymore. All of this is happening. We’re coming to you,”
The police reviewed Johnson’s posts and noted that he was en route to Austin while continuing to make threats.
“Detectives contacted Mr. Rogan, who stated he had never had any interaction with Johnson and considered the posts to be threatening,” police told the Hollywood Reporter.
“Based on this information, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Johnson on a charge of Terroristic Threat.”
Police located Johnson at his Four Seasons hotel room in downtown Austin at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, according to KXAN Austin.
He was booked into Travis County Jail and held on a $20,000 bond. He has since been released from jail.
In footage from the arrest, Johnson is seen wearing a burgundy sweatsuit and a tactical vest.
He can be seen pacing and speaking about going to prison and fighting Rogan.
Police also recorded an officer patting Johnson down before escorting him to a police vehicle.
Johnson built his social media profile with millions of followers by claiming his ancestral diet helped him build his muscular physique.
While Rogan has never hosted Johnson on his podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience, he has discussed the influencer’s steroid use.
Rogan criticized Johnson for claiming he gained his chiseled physique by following an “ancestral” diet of raw meat and unprocessed organs, including livers.
Johnson had denied having used steroids until 2022, when a leak of his emails revealed he had spent over $11,000 a month on steroids to achieve his look.
He faced a $25 million lawsuit from enraged customers who accused him of fraud and deception, but this was ultimately dropped, according to the Daily Mail.
Image credits: Vivian Zink/Getty Images
Rogan has publicly criticized Johnson for misleading his audience. On his podcast, Rogan called Johnson’s claims “preposterous.”
Rogan also claimed that Johnson had asked to come on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, but Rogan refused, saying: “You ran a con game and you got busted.”
After his arrest, Johnson posted new videos online, showing an ankle monitor and suggesting that Rogan had obtained a restraining order against him.
He continued to hint at wanting to fight Rogan, despite the legal restrictions.
Johnson said he will never stop and is preparing for a fight after being released from prison
Image credits: Getty Images
In one video, Johnson referred to Rogan indirectly, calling him someone “whose name rhymes with Rogan” or jokingly “Seth Rogen,” the actor
He said the videos “will never stop” and that he was preparing for a fight, although he claimed no laws would be broken.
“But I don’t want to give any details, nor any names. That’s how you get ready for a fight,” he said in one of the videos.
“And you thought the videos would stop. But they will never stop … you’ve got an infinite amount of venom, and then we’ll hug and unite … at some point, you have to capitulate something. Real tension, real fight.”
Johnson also said he was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, which will continue monthly.
Before the arrest, his videos repeatedly challenged Rogan and included aggressive language such as “Shame on you, I’m going to make you pay … I’m going to fight, and I’m not going to stop.”
Johnson’s story and his rivalry with Rogan were documented in the Netflix film Untold: The Liver King.