Who is Liver King? The Rise of a Primal Fitness Icon
In this article, we uncover who is Liver King—the man who skyrocketed to fame by preaching ancestral living, shocked the world with a massive scandal, and is now trying to rebuild his reputation. Was he a genius marketer, a fitness fraud, or something in between? Keep reading to find out the truth behind the liver-eating, muscle-bound internet sensation!
If you’ve spent any time on social media, you’ve probably come across a bearded, shirtless man tearing into raw liver and shouting about ancestral living. That man is Liver King. But who is Liver King really? Is he a modern-day caveman, a fitness guru, or just a marketing genius with a taste for raw organ meat?
Brian Johnson – The Man Behind the Muscle
Before the internet knew him as Liver King, he was Brian Johnson, a regular guy from Texas. Well, maybe not entirely regular. Growing up, he was small, insecure, and, by his own admission, not the toughest kid around. That changed when he discovered weightlifting, which became his obsession. He wanted to be bigger, stronger, and unbreakable.
Unlike most fitness influencers, Brian actually studied biochemistry in college. It makes sense now—he knew how the body worked and what it needed to grow. Before he became a social media sensation, he had a successful career in the medical field. Yep, the man who now preaches about avoiding modern medicine once ran a dental business with his wife.
At some point, though, he decided the modern world was making people weak. Processed foods, soft beds, and comfortable lives were turning men into shadows of their former selves. His solution? Go back to the way our ancestors lived—raw meat, intense workouts, and absolutely no shoes.
The Birth of Liver King and the Ancestral Lifestyle
Brian didn’t just adopt this lifestyle—he became it. He rebranded himself as Liver King, embracing the most extreme version of primal living. He claimed that to be strong and healthy, people had to reject modern comforts and follow what he called the Nine Ancestral Tenets.
This philosophy was built on three core ideas: eat like our ancestors, train like a warrior, and live without modern softness. And he meant it.
His daily habits were straight out of a survival documentary. He ate raw liver, bull testicles, and bone marrow instead of typical meals. He walked barefoot everywhere, no matter the terrain. He slept on wooden planks because soft beds were for the weak. His workouts? Pure hardcore barbarian mode—carrying absurd amounts of weight, sprinting through fields, and plunging into ice-cold water.
People were fascinated. Was he a genius? A lunatic? A little bit of both? Whatever he was, he was impossible to ignore.
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The Social Media Explosion
Liver King didn’t just promote a lifestyle—he turned it into an internet spectacle. With his massive, veiny physique and loud, primal energy, he became a viral sensation almost overnight. His TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube videos racked up millions of views. People couldn’t get enough of this wild, bearded man screaming at the camera while eating raw meat.
His image was unforgettable. He was always shirtless, always flexing, and always delivering over-the-top motivational rants about how modern men had become weak. His confidence, intensity, and straight-up bizarre habits made him one of the most talked-about fitness influencers in the world.
Some people loved him. Others thought he was completely out of his mind. But one thing was clear—he had everyone’s attention.
The Business Empire Behind the Barbarian
Of course, who is Liver King without his business empire? He wasn’t just pushing a philosophy; he was selling a dream—the idea that anyone could achieve his superhuman physique by following the ancestral way.
He built a multi-million-dollar brand around this concept. His company, Ancestral Supplements, sold liver-based supplements for people who wanted the benefits of eating organs without having to actually chew on raw liver. He also offered coaching programs and brand deals, turning his primal image into a money-making powerhouse.
But at the core of his entire brand was one big promise—that his insane, shredded physique was built 100% naturally, purely through ancestral living. No steroids. No shortcuts. Just liver, discipline, and hard work.
But was that really true? That’s where things start to get interesting…
Who is Liver King? The Truth About His Steroid Claims
From the very beginning, Liver King built his entire brand on one bold statement: he was 100% natural. No steroids, no performance-enhancing drugs—just raw liver, extreme workouts, and a commitment to ancestral living. He repeated this claim so often that it became one of the foundations of his identity. But was it really true?
Public Denials and Interviews
As his popularity grew, so did the questions. Was it really possible to be that muscular and shredded year-round without any chemical help? Fitness experts, bodybuilders, and fans all started asking the same thing: Is Liver King on steroids?
His response? A loud and confident NO.
In almost every podcast and interview, he made sure to shut down any accusations immediately. Whether it was on The Joe Rogan Experience, Logan Paul’s Impaulsive Podcast, or in countless social media clips, his answer never changed. He would laugh off the idea, shake his head, and say things like:
“I’ve never touched that stuff in my life.”
“If you eat like a king, train like a king, and live like a king, you look like a king.”
“I’m 100% natural, and that’s the only way.”
Even when people pointed out that his insane vascularity, constant leanness, and massive muscle size were all signs of steroid use, he stood his ground. He wasn’t just saying he was natural—he was making fun of the idea that anyone could think otherwise.
Why This Claim Was So Important
This wasn’t just about personal pride. The idea that Liver King was completely natural was crucial to everything he was selling. His brand wasn’t just about eating liver and working out—it was about convincing people they could achieve his results by following his ancestral lifestyle. If he admitted to using steroids, it would mean that his physique wasn’t actually possible without pharmaceutical help, his diet and lifestyle weren’t the magic formula he claimed them to be, and his business empire—built on supplements, coaching, and the dream of getting jacked like him—would take a serious hit.
People wanted to believe that they could look like Liver King if they just ate enough raw liver, lifted heavy things, and followed his Nine Ancestral Tenets. That belief was what sold supplements, got him brand deals, and made him a viral sensation. If he had admitted to steroids from the start, the entire illusion would have crumbled.
The Fitness World Was Skeptical
While many fans took him at his word, plenty of experts weren’t buying it. Bodybuilders, personal trainers, and even doctors who specialize in hormones started calling him out. They pointed out that his physique was too extreme to be achieved naturally—especially for a man in his mid-40s.
His constant leanness was almost impossible to maintain naturally. Professional bodybuilders bulk and cut in cycles, but Liver King stayed at single-digit body fat year-round, which is something that even elite athletes struggle to do without assistance. His muscle fullness and vascularity were also major red flags. Natural athletes don’t usually maintain that level of size, hardness, and definition all the time. His age was another giveaway. Most men experience a natural decline in testosterone as they get older, but somehow, Liver King was building more muscle than ever, with no signs of slowing down.
For months, speculation ran wild. People made videos analyzing his physique, comparing it to known steroid users, and breaking down why his claims didn’t add up. Yet, through all of it, Liver King stuck to his story. He kept saying he was natural, kept promoting his lifestyle, and kept insisting that anyone could look like him if they just followed the ancestral way.
The Bombshell Revelation
Then, in late 2022, the truth finally came out. A leaked email exposed Liver King’s actual steroid cycle, showing that he was spending over $10,000 a month on performance-enhancing drugs. It wasn’t just a little testosterone replacement therapy—he was on a serious cocktail of steroids, including human growth hormone (HGH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and several other anabolic compounds.
The internet exploded. After months of denying it, the truth was now undeniable. He had built his brand on a lie, selling people on a naturally attainable physique that was anything but natural. People who had defended him felt betrayed, while those who had been skeptical all along celebrated the fact that they had been right.
Liver King responded with a public apology video, admitting that he had been using steroids the entire time. He claimed that he had started taking them because he felt insecure and wanted to be the best version of himself. He also admitted that he had been misleading his audience and took full responsibility for it. But by then, the damage was done. The trust was broken, and his reputation would never be the same.
What Happens Next?
So now that the truth is out, who is Liver King really? Is he just another fitness influencer who got caught lying, or is there still value in his message? Some people still support him, arguing that even though he lied about steroids, his focus on ancestral health and fitness is still beneficial. Others believe he’s just another fraud who built a career by deceiving his audience.
One thing is certain—his exposure didn’t completely destroy him. He’s still active on social media, still promoting his supplements, and still living the ancestral lifestyle (with or without steroids). His fanbase has definitely shrunk, but plenty of people still follow him, either out of loyalty or just to see what he does next.
The biggest lesson here? In the world of fitness influencers, skepticism is key. When someone promises results that seem too good to be true, they usually are. Liver King proved that even the loudest voices in the industry can be hiding something behind the scenes. Whether his message still holds value is up for debate, but one thing is clear—his legacy will always be tied to the biggest fitness scandal in recent history.
Who is Liver King? The Scandal That Exposed the Truth
For months, the fitness world was buzzing with suspicions. Was Liver King really as natural as he claimed, or was there something more going on behind the scenes? He had built an entire empire on the promise that his shredded physique was purely the result of his ancestral lifestyle, but in late 2022, the truth finally came crashing down.
The Leak: Emails That Changed Everything
The scandal started when Derek from More Plates More Dates, a well-respected fitness YouTuber known for exposing steroid users, got his hands on some damning leaked emails. These emails weren’t just rumors or speculation—they were direct communications from Liver King’s own team, proving once and for all that he was taking an extreme amount of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
The revelations were jaw-dropping. The emails detailed a shocking steroid cycle that included:
Over $11,000 per month worth of steroids. That’s more than most people spend on rent or a mortgage.
A cocktail of human growth hormone (HGH), testosterone, peptides, and several other powerful drugs designed to build muscle, burn fat, and keep him looking stage-ready 24/7.
A strategy that was the complete opposite of his ancestral message. Instead of relying on nature, raw liver, and primal workouts, he was essentially running a high-level laboratory experiment on his own body.
For months, Liver King had been standing in front of millions of followers, pounding his chest, eating raw organ meats, and telling people that if they just lived like their ancestors, they could look like him. But these emails proved beyond a doubt that his physique wasn’t built on liver and lifting alone—it was built with modern science and a pharmacy’s worth of synthetic hormones.
Why This Was Such a Big Deal
The internet has no shortage of fitness influencers who use steroids. In fact, most people already assume that the biggest, leanest, and most shredded guys in the industry are on something. So why did Liver King’s exposure hit so hard?
It wasn’t just about the steroid use—it was about the lie.
He had spent years mocking steroid users, acting like he was superior because he lived “ancestrally” and trained like a beast while everyone else took shortcuts. He didn’t just avoid talking about PEDs—he went out of his way to convince people he was 100% natural. He was selling a dream that thousands of people bought into, spending their hard-earned money on his supplements, coaching, and lifestyle programs. The entire pitch was based on one idea:
“If you eat, train, and live like me, you can look like me.”
But that promise was never real. No amount of liver, testicle smoothies, or barefoot sprints could replicate what $11,000 worth of steroids was doing for his body. Fans weren’t just disappointed—they felt betrayed.
The Internet Explosion: Fans and Critics React
As soon as the emails leaked, social media exploded. Fitness YouTubers, influencers, and critics all jumped on the story. Liver King, once an untouchable force in the fitness world, became the subject of endless memes, reaction videos, and harsh criticism.
Longtime skeptics celebrated the fact that they had been right all along. People who had blindly defended him now had to face the reality that they had been fooled. His most loyal followers—the ones who had religiously eaten raw liver, trained like savages, and bought every supplement he sold—felt like they had been taken for a ride.
Even mainstream media picked up the story. What had once been an underground fitness niche scandal quickly turned into a viral internet event, with major outlets covering the fallout.
Liver King Confession…I lied Video
Liver King’s Response: The Apology Video
With his brand on the line and millions of angry fans demanding answers, Liver King had no choice but to respond. He released a public apology video, finally admitting to everything. In the video, he tried to explain why he had lied, saying that he had started taking steroids because he felt insecure and wanted to be the best version of himself. He claimed that he never meant to deceive anyone, but rather, he got caught up in the persona he had created.
The video was met with mixed reactions. Some people respected the fact that he finally told the truth, while others felt like the damage had already been done. After months of boldly denying steroid use, it was hard for many to believe that his apology was anything more than damage control.
The big question now was: Could he recover from this? Would people still follow him, buy his supplements, and listen to his fitness advice now that they knew the truth?
What Happens Next?
Even after being exposed, Liver King didn’t just disappear. He took a brief break but then came right back to social media, continuing to promote his Nine Ancestral Tenets and his supplement brand. Some of his fans remained loyal, arguing that despite the steroid scandal, his message about eating whole foods, training hard, and avoiding modern distractions was still valuable. Others, however, saw him as nothing more than a fraud who had built his empire on deception.
The Liver King scandal serves as a massive lesson for the fitness world. It’s a reminder to always be skeptical, especially when someone is selling a “too good to be true” transformation. When a fitness influencer claims they got their godlike physique naturally, it’s always worth questioning whether there’s more going on behind the scenes.
So now the question remains: Who is Liver King really? A dedicated fitness motivator who made a mistake, or just another influencer who got caught selling a lie? His legacy is forever changed, but whether he fades into obscurity or finds a way to rebuild his brand is yet to be seen.
One thing’s for sure—no one will ever look at raw liver the same way again.
Who is Liver King? The Fallout and Internet Backlash
After the truth came out, the internet wasted no time reacting. Liver King, once a celebrated figure in the fitness world, quickly became the target of intense criticism, disappointment, and, of course, relentless jokes. His carefully crafted image of a primal warrior living purely by ancestral principles was shattered overnight. Fans felt deceived, critics had a field day, and the fitness community reignited the age-old debate about steroid use, honesty, and the ethics of fitness influencers.
Fans & Followers Felt Betrayed
For years, Liver King had convinced thousands of people that they, too, could achieve his massive, shredded physique just by eating raw liver, lifting heavy, and rejecting modern comforts. People who had religiously followed his Nine Ancestral Tenets, trained like beasts, and even choked down raw bull testicles were now left questioning everything.
The backlash was immediate. Social media exploded with angry comments from former fans who felt they had been sold a false dream. Many had spent money on his supplements, believing they were the key to achieving a primal, powerful body. But now, they realized that no amount of desiccated liver pills would ever replicate what $11,000 worth of steroids per month was doing for him.
Memes and joke videos flooded platforms like TikTok and Instagram. People sarcastically pretended to take liver supplements while flexing their completely unchanged muscles. Others edited videos of Liver King shouting about ancestral living, only to cut to a clip of syringes and steroid vials. His entire brand—once based on strength and authenticity—was now a running joke.
The Fitness Community Reacts
It wasn’t just everyday fans who were upset. The fitness industry had plenty to say about the scandal. Some of the biggest voices in fitness, including Joe Rogan, Greg Doucette, and Derek from More Plates More Dates, weighed in with their thoughts.
Joe Rogan, who had previously speculated that Liver King was on steroids, wasted no time in saying “I told you so.” He criticized the deception and called out the unrealistic expectations Liver King had been selling to his audience. Greg Doucette, a popular fitness coach and bodybuilder, broke down the science behind the exposed steroid cycle, explaining just how extreme his PED usage really was.
This scandal reignited a major debate in the fitness world:
- Should fitness influencers be honest about steroid use?
- Is it unethical to sell a “natural” image when it’s actually built on performance-enhancing drugs?
- How much responsibility do influencers have when promoting health and fitness products?
Some argued that Liver King was no different from the many influencers who use filters, perfect lighting, and Photoshop to enhance their appearance. Others said that this case was worse because he was selling an entire lifestyle and product line based on a huge lie.
The Damage to His Business and Reputation
With so much backlash, the big question became: Would his business survive? Liver King’s empire was built on Ancestral Supplements, a company selling liver-based pills and other primal health products. The entire marketing strategy revolved around his physique as proof that his lifestyle worked. Now that the truth was out, would people still buy into it?
At first, his supplement sales took a major hit. Many people who had been loyal customers felt betrayed and stopped buying his products. His credibility in the fitness world was badly damaged, and for a while, it seemed like his entire empire might collapse.
But surprisingly, Liver King didn’t disappear. He posted an apology video, admitting to his steroid use and claiming that he had made a huge mistake. He said he had started using PEDs because of insecurities and a desire to be the best version of himself. He insisted that, despite the scandal, his Nine Ancestral Tenets were still valuable and that he hoped people would continue to follow them.
The response to his apology was mixed. Some fans forgave him, arguing that his core message about healthy living was still valid. Others weren’t convinced, believing that he was only apologizing because he got caught.
Liver King’s Business Boom and Backlash (2014–2025) Chart:
Chart Explanation :
This chart illustrates the meteoric rise and sharp decline of Liver King’s supplement empire, Ancestral Supplements. From modest beginnings in 2014, the brand saw explosive growth, peaking in 2021 with an estimated $200 million in revenue. However, in late 2022, Liver King publicly admitted to steroid use after years of branding himself as a natural athlete. The scandal led to a major drop in consumer trust, a $25 million lawsuit, and a steep decline in business performance through 2025.
What’s Next for Liver King?
Despite the scandal, Liver King is still active on social media, still promoting his ancestral lifestyle, and still trying to rebuild his brand. His supplement company is still running, and while he has lost some credibility, he has also gained a new kind of attention—not necessarily the kind he wanted, but attention nonetheless.
The big question now is: Can he recover from this? Will people eventually move on, or will he always be remembered as the guy who ate raw liver while secretly injecting steroids?
One thing is certain—no one will ever look at raw organ meats, primal workouts, or the phrase “ancestral living” the same way again.
Who is Liver King? The Impact of the Lie on His Career
The truth always comes out, and when it did, Liver King’s career took a serious hit. For years, he had built an empire on the promise that his Nine Ancestral Tenets and extreme lifestyle were the key to his superhuman physique. But when it was revealed that steroids played a massive role in his success, the backlash was swift. His reputation, business, and credibility were all on the line.
The Financial and Business Impact
Trust is everything in the fitness industry. People want to believe that if they follow a certain lifestyle, eat the right foods, and train a certain way, they can achieve incredible results. Liver King sold that dream, convincing thousands that his shredded physique was a direct result of eating raw liver, rejecting modern comforts, and following ancestral living. But when the truth about his steroid use was exposed, that trust was broken—and so were his sales.
People who had once been loyal fans stopped buying his supplements. Ancestral Supplements, the company that made him millions, saw a decline in revenue as disappointed customers moved on. Many realized that no amount of liver pills or primal workouts would give them the same results as $11,000 worth of steroids per month.
On top of that, some sponsors and business partners distanced themselves from him. When a brand is built on authenticity and honesty, getting caught in a massive lie is not great for business. While he still had his most die-hard supporters, the damage was undeniable.
The Apology Video – Did It Help?
With his career in crisis, Liver King had no choice but to address the controversy. He released an apology video, admitting that he had, in fact, been using steroids. After months of denying it, laughing off accusations, and even ridiculing people who suggested he was on PEDs, he finally told the truth.
In the video, he claimed that he took steroids because he felt pressured to maintain his physique and that his intention was never to deceive anyone but rather to inspire people to be healthier. He insisted that he wanted to help men struggling with self-confidence and body image issues.
The apology was raw, emotional, and carefully crafted to win back his audience. He didn’t make excuses but admitted his mistake, which was something many influencers in similar situations have failed to do.
But did it work?
The Mixed Reactions – Forgiveness or Damage Control?
As expected, the internet was divided. Some people appreciated that he finally came clean, saying it took courage to admit such a huge deception publicly. They argued that his message about living healthier, training hard, and eating whole foods was still valuable—even if he had been dishonest about his own physique.
But others weren’t convinced. Many saw the apology as damage control, a last-ditch effort to salvage what was left of his brand. They pointed out that he only admitted the truth after getting caught, not because he wanted to be honest. If the leaked emails had never surfaced, would he have ever told the truth? Probably not.
The biggest issue wasn’t the steroid use itself—many people in the fitness industry use performance-enhancing drugs. The problem was the deception. He had spent years selling a “natural” lifestyle while secretly taking substances that gave him an unfair advantage. That was what made people feel cheated, misled, and frustrated.
What’s Next for Liver King?
With his credibility shattered, the future of Liver King remains uncertain. He still has a strong online presence, still promotes ancestral living, and still has a following. But the scandal permanently changed the way people see him. His influence in the fitness industry is no longer the same, and his name will forever be tied to one of the biggest fitness frauds in recent memory.
The question is, can he ever fully recover? Or will he always be remembered as the man who built a brand on raw liver, primal workouts, and a massive lie?
Who is Liver King? Where Is He Now?
After the scandal that shook the fitness world, many people were left wondering who is Liver King today and what’s happened to him since the truth came out. The internet has a short memory, but some things stick forever—especially when they involve deception, millions of dollars, and a man eating raw animal organs on camera. So, did Liver King manage to survive the backlash, or did his career come to a complete stop?
Did He Survive the Scandal?
Liver King didn’t disappear. He didn’t pack up his wooden plank bed, throw on some modern shoes, and retire from the internet. Instead, he did what most influencers do when they get caught—he pivoted.
Despite the controversy, he’s still very much active on social media. He continues to push the ancestral lifestyle, still posts intense workouts, and yes, he still eats raw liver on camera. The difference? His image has shifted. While he once carried himself as an untouchable, all-natural primal leader, he now leans into a more self-aware, slightly humbled version of himself. He’s admitted to his past steroid use, but he insists that his core message—encouraging people to get stronger, eat whole foods, and live a more primal life—is still valuable.
Of course, not everyone is buying it. The damage to his reputation was massive, and while some fans have stuck around, others felt too betrayed to continue supporting him. His attempt to rebuild trust has been a slow process, and even though he’s still making content, the aura of invincibility he once had is gone for good.
Is He Still Popular?
Liver King’s following hasn’t completely disappeared, but the engagement on his content tells a different story. Millions of people still follow him, but the energy around his brand isn’t what it used to be. Before the scandal, people were eager to believe in his message, hoping that his ancestral lifestyle held the key to an extreme physique. Now, many of those same people have become skeptical.
Some of his original fans moved on—either because they felt lied to or because they realized that no amount of raw organ meat would give them steroid-level gains. However, others have remained loyal, either because they like his personality, enjoy his content, or simply don’t care about the scandal. After all, plenty of fitness influencers use PEDs, and some people argue that the only difference with Liver King was that he got caught lying about it.
But the truth is, his influence has taken a hit. He’s no longer the fresh, exciting internet phenomenon he once was. His videos don’t go as viral, his supplement sales likely aren’t what they used to be, and the hype surrounding him has faded significantly. While he’s still a known name in the fitness space, he’s not the unstoppable force he once was.
Liver King’s Social Media Rise and Fallout (2020–2025) Chart:
Chart Explanation:
Chart showing Liver King’s social media follower trends from 2020 to 2025. Each line is now clearly labeled with distinct colors and markers:
- Purple Line: Instagram followers
- Red Line: YouTube subscribers
- Blue Line: TikTok followers
The chart highlights the dramatic rise in followers leading up to 2022, followed by a visible drop across all platforms after the steroid scandal was exposed.
Lessons From the Liver King Scandal
The Liver King saga wasn’t just another fitness scandal—it was a major moment for the industry. It exposed some hard truths about social media, fitness influencers, and the way people market their brands.
The biggest lesson? Honesty matters. In the fitness world, where people are constantly looking for ways to improve their health and physiques, influencers have a responsibility to be transparent. Liver King’s biggest mistake wasn’t using steroids—it was building a business around a lie. If he had been open about his PED use from the start, his career might have played out very differently. Instead, by pushing the idea that anyone could achieve his results naturally, he misled thousands of people.
Another takeaway? Social media can make or break you overnight. Liver King skyrocketed to fame in a short period, but when the truth came out, the backlash was just as fast. The internet is unforgiving, and while people love building someone up, they love tearing them down even more. His story serves as a warning for anyone trying to create an online brand—if you base it on deception, it’s only a matter of time before it all comes crashing down.
Finally, the scandal sparked an important discussion: Should influencers be honest about steroids? Some argue that performance-enhancing drugs are so common in fitness that pretending otherwise is ridiculous. Others believe that influencers have a responsibility to tell the truth, especially when they’re selling products and lifestyle programs based on their supposed “natural” results. Liver King’s downfall forced more people to question the claims of fitness influencers, and that’s probably a good thing for the industry as a whole.
What’s Next for Liver King?
So, who is Liver King now? He’s still here, still posting, training, and eating raw liver for the internet. But his brand has changed forever. While he may never fully recover his credibility, he’s managed to hold onto enough of his audience to keep going. The days of him being an untouchable fitness icon are over, but he’s not completely out of the game.
His story is a cautionary tale—about the power of marketing, the risks of lying to your audience, and the reality of fitness influencers in the modern age. He rose fast, fell hard, but didn’t completely disappear. Whether he finds a way to stay relevant long-term or fades into internet history remains to be seen. One thing is certain: anyone searching who is Liver King today will find a story that’s a lot more complicated than just a guy eating liver and preaching about the primal way of life.
