Brian Johnson Arrested In Austin For Allegedly Threatening Joe Rogan On Instagram

In a story that could play out on the true-crime podcast circuit, Brian Johnson, more popularly known as the "Liver King," has landed himself in legal hot water. The controversial fitness influencer and Netflix's Untold, The Liver King subject was taken into custody in Austin, Texas, on June 24 after making threatening social media posts that were reportedly aimed at popular podcaster Joe Rogan.

The Austin Police Department also confirmed that Johnson had shared a series of ominous personal posts on his Instagram account, which had riled up fans and police officers. Johnson was reportedly on his way to Austin, speaking threats toward Rogan, law enforcement said. These online declarations were enough red flags to indicate that there would be police action, and it would be quick.

When they called Joe Rogan, cops found that the pugnacious podcast host had never spoken with Johnson before and perceived the posts as threatening. Upon getting this verification, officers quickly obtained an arrest warrant for Johnson for making a terroristic threat, a severe accusation categorized as a Class B misdemeanor under the laws of Texas. Johnson was arrested without incident outside a hotel in Austin and was taken into custody on the same day. No act of violence was committed, but the charge reflects a growing focus on how the law can be applied when digital threats are taken across a legal threshold.

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The arrest of the Liver King, a man who had amassed a substantial following by preaching ancestral living, consuming raw organ meat, and presenting a larger-than-life existence, is a steep fall from grace. While once Johnson's main act was a display of pure, primal power and ultimate wellness, downscaling himself from a phenomenon known as "The Rock," his hijinks now skirt dangerous lines, and it feels like he's promoting a shock-value branding that has crossed over into criminality.

As of now, the case remains under investigation, and no further information has been provided by law enforcement. The incident is a jarring example that, in the era of viral fame and social media spectacle, words, particularly threatening ones, have real-world consequences. Whether Johnson's arrest affects his notoriety as a Netflix sensation or his ability to build a fad fitness empire remains to be seen, but the "Liver King" is now in a new kind of spotlight, and this time it's in a courtroom.