The fitness world is no stranger to dramatic twists but the latest salvo exchanged between two health supplement personalities has set tongues wagging across social media and the courtroom. Brian “Liver King” Johnson, once celebrated for his raw organ-eating regimen and rugged primal lifestyle, now finds himself squarely in the legal spotlight accused of reneging on a contract sealed in blood.
The plaintiff, Brad Kearns, alleges that he and Johnson forged an unusual business alliance: a collaboration on a supplement named “Male Optimization Formula with Organs,” or MOFO for short. As the name suggests, MOFO is not your average pill—it boasts an ingredient list featuring powdered animal organs, promising some of the alleged benefits of Liver King’s famously consumed raw cow liver but in capsule form. For a man who once built his brand on eating entire raw organs, this shortcut seemed like a natural next step.
According to Kearns, the two men drafted a one-page contract—eschewing the fine print for simplicity—that both agreed to make official by “marking it with their blood,” a nod to an ancient rite of commitment befitting Liver King’s primal persona. The lawsuit, shared publicly by attorney Robert Freund, claims Johnson has since failed to uphold his end of their pact, sparking the legal dispute.
In response, Liver King’s representatives have firmly denied many of the allegations including any serious talks or pitches regarding the MOFO product. However, under intense legal scrutiny, they have not disputed the existence of the blood-marked contract itself. They conceded to the court,
“the document was signed and included ‘marking by blood,’”
an admission that has done little to placate the matter.
Here’s the twist: while a blood oath sounds like something out of legend—and no doubt heightens the drama—the courts have been clear. In California, where the lawsuit is filed, agreements signed “in blood” hold no more legal weight than a pinky swear. As Gizmodo confirms, blood oaths are purely symbolic and cannot be enforced in a court of law, unless one happens to be a practitioner of “blood magic,” which, to our knowledge, neither party claims to be.
This raises an eyebrow at the entire affair. Could this theatrical gesture have backfired spectacularly? In a world where contracts and deals hinge on clarity and legality, such an eyebrow-raising blood ritual might seem, in retrospect, more of a liability than a binding covenant. It’s almost tempting to suggest that if Liver King had only crossed his fingers behind his back while signing, he might have been spared the current legal storm.
Whether this case will lead to monetary damages, a messy settlement or simple dismissal remains to be seen. But for now, Brian Johnson, known to his legions of followers as the Liver King, finds himself in unfamiliar territory—battling not just public opinion but the formalities of the legal system over a contract as unconventional as his lifestyle.
