Brian Johnson, better known as the “Liver King,” has found himself in serious legal trouble after his campaign of harassment against podcaster Joe Rogan escalated into criminal charges. A recent YouTube video from a lawyer talks about how what began as a social media influencer’s desperate attempt to salvage his reputation has morphed into a textbook case of how not to handle public criticism.
The saga started when Rogan publicly questioned whether Johnson’s impressive physique was truly the result of his “nine ancestral tenets” and raw organ meat diet, or if PEDs were involved. Rogan’s suspicions proved correct when evidence emerged in 2022 showing Johnson was using extensive PEDs, forcing him to issue a public apology that destroyed his “all-natural” brand.
Rather than accepting the consequences of his deception, Johnson became fixated on confronting Rogan. His social media posts grew increasingly unhinged, culminating in videos where he wielded rif**s while challenging Rogan to fight.
“Joe Rogan, I’m calling you out,” Johnson declared, holding gold-plated arms. “Man to man, I’m picking a fight with you.”
The situation escalated when Johnson traveled to Austin, Texas—where Rogan lives—with what he claimed were “gifts” for the podcaster. His posts from Austin included the direct threat: “Guess what? You’re dead, f***. You’re dead.”
Johnson’s behavior, including filming himself giving himself coffee enemas while ranting about Rogan, prompted Rogan’s security team to alert police.
Austin police arrested Johnson on charges of making t**roristic threats under Texas Penal Code Section 22.07. This statute criminalizes threatening violence with the intent to place someone in fear of imminent serious bodily injury. Johnson’s actions, including traveling to Rogan’s city while making threatening statements and wielding arms, clearly demonstrated the specific intent required for conviction.
Johnson’s legal defense strategy appears as misguided as his social media campaign. His attorneys filed a motion demanding Rogan appear in court and “officially admit” he feared Johnson. The statute doesn’t require the victim to actually feel threatened; what matters is the defendant’s intent, which can be inferred from his actions and words.
Johnson’s First Amendment defense also lacks merit. While the Constitution protects offensive speech, it doesn’t protect “true threats”—statements that communicate a serious intent to commit violence. The Supreme Court’s precedent in Virginia v. Black and Counterman v. Colorado establishes that Johnson’s arm-wielding videos and trip to Austin would likely qualify as unprotected threats rather than mere hyperbole.
The case highlights how social media can amplify poor judgment into criminal behavior. Johnson’s desperate attempt to force his way onto Rogan’s podcast through intimidation has instead earned him potential jail time and further damaged his already-tarnished reputation.
As a Class B misdemeanor, the charges carry up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. It is hardly devastating for someone claiming to earn $100 million annually, but the real cost may be the final destruction of his influencer career.
