Death, Liver King, Brian Michael Johnson American health & fitness YouTuber, What Happened?
Brian “Liver King” Johnson Update: No Death — Scandal, Arrest, and Lifestyle Reversal Explained
Brian Michael Johnson — widely known as Liver King — is alive and facing serious public and legal scrutiny in 2025. Contrary to rumors of his death, credible sources confirm he continues to post on social media. (Green Matters)
Johnson gained fame as a fitness influencer whose “ancestral lifestyle” centered on consuming raw organ meats, including liver, testicles, and bone marrow. (Wikipedia) He claimed that his chiseled physique came solely from natural practices — no steroids, no synthetic substances. (Firstpost)
But in 2022, Johnson’s narrative unraveled. Leaked emails revealed he spent over US$11,000 a month on steroids and human growth hormone to build his body. (Firstpost) He eventually confessed in a video, admitting he lied about being “all natural.” (Firstpost) The scandal severely impacted his reputation, though a $25 million lawsuit by followers alleging fraud was later dropped. (Firstpost)
In May 2025, Netflix released Untold: The Liver King, a documentary that further exposed Johnson’s lifestyle and his admissions. (People.com) In the film, he said he no longer takes performance-enhancing drugs and has shifted away from a strict carnivore diet. (Yahoo!) He acknowledged that his former diet “starved” him, and now includes vegetables alongside his raw-meat roots. (E! Online)
Legal troubles continued. On June 24, 2025, Austin police arrested Johnson for making terroristic threats against podcaster Joe Rogan, based on a series of Instagram videos in which he challenged Rogan to a physical confrontation. (Enstarz) He was booked on a Class B misdemeanor and released on US$20,000 bail with conditions: no contact with Rogan, no firearms, and a mental health evaluation. (Enstarz)
Johnson’s behavior leading up to the arrest alarmed many. In his online videos, he appeared erratic — pacing shirtless, wearing a wolf-skin hat, and holding firearms, according to police and video evidence. (Enstarz) Authorities also reported that Rogan’s security team alerted them after viewing Johnson’s posts. (Newsweek)
Since his release, Johnson has resumed posting, though his tone remains confrontational. (Yahoo!) Meanwhile, he and his family have defended his ancestral lifestyle but conceded that his past persona was partially fueled by performance-enhancing drugs. (Yahoo!)
On a personal level, Brian Johnson was born on March 2, 1978, at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico and later raised by his mother in Texas after his father’s sudden death. (Wikipedia) He graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in biochemistry before building a business empire that included supplement brands like Heart & Soil and Ancestral Supplements. (Firstpost)
Medical professionals have repeatedly criticized Johnson’s dietary advice, warning that his high-fat, organ-heavy diet can carry serious health risks, including high cholesterol and digestive issues. (Hindustan Times)
Today, Liver King remains a polarizing figure. While his ancestral influence persists, his legacy is now defined less by raw organs than by a very public reckoning — one that includes legal drama, distancing from his former claims, and a more moderated lifestyle. Johnson’s journey underscores how influencer fame, truth, and controversy often collide in modern wellness culture.