Brian Johnson, the online influencer also known as “The Liver King,” was arrested Tuesday in Austin, Texas, following a bizarre series of social media posts in which he repeatedly challenged UFC color commentator Joe Rogan to a fight. Johnson faces one charge with allegedly making a terroristic threat after a multi-day saga that culminated with the 47-year-old flying to the popular podcaster’s home city of Austin while continuing to post rambling online threats directed at Rogan.
Local Austin outlet KXAN first reported news of Johnson’s arrest. In a statement released Wednesday to MMA Fighting, Austin Police said the department “contacted Mr. Rogan, who stated he had never had any interaction with Johnson and considered the posts to be threatening. Based on this information, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Johnson on a charge of Terroristic Threat.”
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On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Austin Police Department (APD) detectives were notified that a subject identified as Brian Johnson, known online as “Liver King”, had made threats against Joe Rogan on his Instagram profile. Detectives reviewed the posts and observed that Johnson was traveling to Austin while continuing to make threatening statements. Detectives contacted Mr. Rogan, who stated he had never had any interaction with Johnson and considered the posts to be threatening. Based on this information, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Johnson on a charge of Terroristic Threat.
Later that day, at approximately 5:59 p.m., APD officers located Johnson at the Four Seasons Hotel located at 98 San Jacinto Boulevard and took him into custody without incident. He was transported to the Travis County Jail and charged with Terroristic Threat, a Class B misdemeanor. This remains an active investigation, and there is no further information is available at this time.
Johnson’s social media timeline is littered with a sprawling amount of strange videos directed at Rogan over the past several days, many of which contain threats and allusions of violence.
“Guess what? You’re dead, b****. You’re dead,” Johnson said in recent one video. “You’re dead. Welcome to Texas.”
Johnson continued to post footage immediately before and after his arrest on Tuesday, including several that show him getting dressed and ready to go meet police at a Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Austin.
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.
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He is currently being held on $20,000 bond.
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. Rogan was one of numerous critics who repeatedly accused Johnson of using steroids — claims which Johnson adamantly denied until admitting to his steroid use in 2022, some of which he said cost upward of $11,000 per month. Following the admission, Johnson stated that his “Liver King” persona was “an experiment to spread the message.”
