The Shocking True Story Of The Liver King
Early Life
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Brian Johnson grew up in the city of San Antonio, Texas. His father passed away at an early age and he was raised by his mother. In school, Johnson was frequently picked on. Finding a weight set belonging to one of his mother’s boyfriends, Johnson began working out. As his physical appearance changed, he perceived a change in the way others viewed him. Another important turning point in Johnson’s childhood was when a fellow classmate mentioned to him that he looked like actor/musician Marky Mark (who now commonly goes by his real name Mark Wahlberg). In Johnson’s mind, this comparison meant that “other guys want to be like [him],” and as a result it “probably changed [his] life forever.”
Education, Work and Starting a Family
At some point after high school, Johnson obtained a degree in biochemistry. He later decided to enroll in medical school, but dropped out during orientation. He then began working for a pharmaceutical company. The job afforded him the luxury to partake in various sports, including snowboarding, which is how he met his future wife, Barbara. She would soon after give birth to two sons, Rad and Stryker. According to Johnson, their children were frequently in and out of the hospital due to health issues. Seeking to improve their well-being, he decided to change their lifestyle - specifically, their eating habits. Based on the book “Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and Diet Dictocrats,” he cut several things from their diet, including processed foods, liquid calories and seed oils, and based their diet solely on whole foods. But Johnson took things a step further. He thought about how early humans lived - before learning to cook meat - and read up on their way of life, applying that to his and his family’s lives. As a result, they started eating raw meats, organs and, of course, liver. He also invented what he calls the nine Ancestral Tenets, which are sleep, eat, move, shield, connect, cold, sun, fight and bond. Additionally, Johnson started Ancestral Supplements, a company that sells supplements of such things as beef organs, fish eggs, and bone marrow, among others.
The Birth of Liver King
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In 2021, Johnson turned to social media. With the help of a social media consulting firm, he began posting content showcasing his daily workout routines and the meals he consumes. This is when he adopted the persona of Liver King; a shirtless, bearded, jacked up alpha male who preaches the 9 ancestral tenets and the consumption of raw meats and liver. Since joining social media, Johnson has amassed a following of over one million followers on Instagram and over two million on TikTok. This has allowed him to appear on several popular podcasts, and make public appearances at many high profile events. This has proved lucrative for the Liver King, who claims that through social media, Ancestral Supplements and his other ventures, he makes around $100 million per year.
“The Liver King Lie”
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Many have criticized Johnson and question the legitimacy of his practices. In fact, he’s had his fair share of detractors, one of whom is podcaster Joe Rogan. Rogan was quick to dismiss Liver King, suggesting he used steroids to build his muscular body. Like Rogan, many have accused Johnson of taking performance enhancing drugs in order to achieve his physical appearance. Since he adopted his Liver King persona, Johnson has constantly denied using steroids and that his physique was obtained naturally. In fact, he’s even gone so far as to mock those who claim he’s on steroids. But, Liver King’s reputation was tarnished on November 29, 2022, when a fitness expert named Derek released a video titled “The Liver King Lie” on his YouTube channel, More Plates More Dates. The hour-long video delves deep into Johnson's history as Liver King, as well as the several instances when he denied using PEDs. However, most notably, Derek goes through several emails that Johnson sent to an anonymous bodybuilding coach, sometime before starting his Liver King brand. In these emails, Johnson describes his plans to not only create an immense social media presence, but build muscle through the use of steroids. In the emails, he mentions several different drugs, like IGF-1 LR, Deca-Durabolin, Omnitrope, and Winstrol. He also admits to spending up to $11,000 a month on PEDs. Derek even shared one email he personally received from Johnson, expressing an interest in acquiring human growth hormones. The video practically went viral, catching the attention of several media outlets who then reported on the video and its findings.
Johnson’s Response
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Johnson kept relatively silent in the wake of the scandal. He did, however, send an email to Rolling Stone, an outlet that published a piece on Derek’s video. In the email, Johnson reiterated his message and the reason why he started Liver King. He also mentioned that he hopes to share his thoughts on the video, perhaps on a long form podcast. However, he neither confirms nor denies the claims made in Derek’s video. Initially, Johnson didn’t address the matter with the public. On his social media pages, he had been posting as usual, without acknowledging the YouTube video. Social media users were quick to criticize him. However, 3 days after Derek’s video was published, Johnson posted his own video on his YouTube channel, finally admitting to using growth hormones. He confesses to lying and taking PEDs in an effort to better promote his lifestyle and his self proclaimed 9 Ancestral tenets. Regardless of whether his apology is sincere, there's no doubt that his brand has taken a massive hit and he’s lost the trust of many followers.
