Fitness Influencer Liver King Arrested for Threatening Joe Rogan

Shocking Arrest at Luxury Hotel

Social media influencer Brian "Liver King" Johnson, known for his muscular physique and controversial raw meat diet, was arrested Tuesday in Austin, Texas for making terroristic threats against podcast host Joe Rogan . Austin police located the 47-year-old Johnson at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Austin around 6 p.m. and took him into custody without incident .

A video posted to Johnson's Instagram account shows the moments before his arrest, with Johnson seen in handcuffs being placed in the back of a police car by officers . Videos posted on his account just prior to that show Johnson getting dressed in a hotel room, drinking an espresso and filing his nails, presumably as he's getting ready to surrender to the cops .

The Threatening Challenge Videos

The 47-year-old shared a series of Instagram videos earlier this week in which he challenged the podcaster to a fight, saying "Joe Rogan, I'm calling you out, my name's Liver King. Man to man, I'm picking a fight with you" . Johnson continued: "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 one particularly concerning video, Johnson appeared shirtless, wearing an animal-fur headdress and holding what appear to be two short-barrel AR-15-style rifles plated in gold . In another post, he said "You never come across something like this, willing to die, hoping that you'll choke me out because that's a dream come true" .

Police Investigation and Legal Consequences

When detectives contacted Rogan, he stated he had never had any interaction with Johnson and considered the posts to be threatening . Austin police became aware of the videos Tuesday and noted that Instagram posts revealed Johnson was traveling to Austin while continuing to make threatening statements .

Johnson's charge of making a terroristic threat toward Rogan is considered a Class B Misdemeanor in Texas, which carries a potential penalty of up to 180 days in jail and as well as a possible $2,000 fine . Johnson was released Wednesday after posting $20,000 bond with a restraining order mandating that he stay at least 200 yards away from Rogan and Rogan's family members .

The Steroid Scandal Background

Johnson initially rose to fame as an online influencer who touted a "natural" and "ancestral" lifestyle which included a diet consisting heavily of eating raw meat, but Rogan was one of numerous critics who repeatedly accused Johnson of using steroids . Johnson adamantly denied these claims until admitting to his steroid use in 2022, some of which he said cost upward of $11,000 per month, saying in his apology video: "I lied, and I misled a lot of people...Yes, I've done steroids, and yes, I am on steroids" .

The court also required Johnson to undergo a mental health evaluation within one week of his release . This bizarre episode highlights how social media feuds can escalate into real-world legal consequences, particularly when influencers with millions of followers make threatening statements while possessing weapons. The case serves as a stark reminder that online personas and disputes can quickly cross the line from entertainment into criminal behavior.