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Liver King’s Steroid Scandal: Untold Redemption Story?

BBG News

Brian Johnson’s shocking online videos, which showed him extracting organs from slain animals and eating them with his family during meals, garnered him significant viral attention. In 2021, Johnson, also known as the “Liver King,” gained 6 million followers and launched a supplements company generating $100 million annually, all due to his claims that by taking a few pills, consuming raw organs, and engaging in intense workouts, anyone could achieve his muscular physique. He repeatedly emphasized that his methods were completely natural. However, at the end of 2022, leaked emails exposed that he had been using steroids and human growth hormone (HGH), spending around $11,000 per month on these substances.

The news that caused Joe Rogan’s disapproval could potentially pop his multimillion-dollar bubble. However, in a realm where spreading health misinformation can turn individuals into celebrities – even the wealthy ones – repercussions are usually fleeting. Now, Liver King is featured in an episode of Untold, Netflix’s continuous sports documentary series, available for streaming from May 13. This installment offers a raw, 70-minute account of his self-declared rags-to-riches tale and journey towards redemption.

Director Joe Pearlman, who has worked with figures like Robbie Williams, Lewis Capaldi, and the Harry Potter cast, expresses his admiration by saying, “I truly believe he’s a mastermind in marketing.” He further explains, “This man understands perfectly what an audience yearns for and skillfully markets products to them in every possible way.

In the documentary, Johnson, a 48-year-old Texan with a robust build of sun-baked muscle and tendon, confesses that he felt like a “runty” child. After his father’s untimely death when he was just a toddler, he admired action heroes such as Rambo and Conan the Barbarian. He understood during his teen years that weight training would provide him with an immediate social circle, and it would also offer a means to transform the physical appearance he perceived as a hindrance. In the film, he emphasizes that fitness held immense power for him, stating that he experienced his first orgasm while bench pressing. Interestingly enough, Arnold Schwarzenegger made a similar claim in 1977’s “Pumping Iron.

Regardless, the captivating narrative of his metamorphosis and caveman-like existence drew in vast audiences. Moreover, by sharing another piece of background—that his sons Rad and Stryker experienced persistent health issues during their youth (“they were frail”), but recovered after adopting a diet rich in organs—the demand for his liver supplements skyrocketed, with approximately 25,000 people purchasing them every month.

Johnson confessed that he once despised his life tremendously, but now he’s amassed a significant fortune,” he shared. However, wealth alone wasn’t sufficient for him—neither his expansive ranch filled with firearms and fur (even his bed was adorned with it); nor the gym where the dogs had their own treadmills. With the assistance of his wife, Barbara, and their now-teenage children who go by ‘Liver Boy Rad’ and ‘Stryker the Barbarian’ online (in one video they consumed their 15 daily raw egg yolks, describing it as ‘disgusting but very ancestral’), he continued to strengthen his brand. Johnson gained popularity on popular podcasts hosted by individuals such as Logan Paul, Ethan Klein, and Bert Kreischer; he was ubiquitous across social media platforms, including Pearlman’s feed.

Over time, a curious query arose alongside his rising fame: was it possible that his distinctive, almost cartoonish physique was naturally attained without any assistance from performance-enhancing substances? Johnson, who frequently graced the camera without a shirt, consistently maintained his “natural” status, refuting speculation from figures like Rogan and continuing to advocate for his “nine ancestral principles” that shaped him into a multimillionaire modern-day Neanderthal. These guidelines were easy enough for anyone to adopt, he emphasized: rest, nourish, exercise, protect (minimizing exposure to WiFi and electromagnetic radiation), bond, expose to cold, sun, challenge (embrace physical and mental hurdles), and unite. His risky raw-organ consumption, which carries potential risks like hepatitis E and salmonella, evidently paid off, according to him: just observe his results.

In November 2022, an email and blood test leak about steroid use allegations against Johnson surfaced on a fitness YouTuber’s channel. Johnson admitted to the documentary crew, “There was no denying it.” His wife, often referred to as “the Liver Queen” on social media, urged him to remain silent, which he agreed to do. He said, “Who cares… what real harm did I actually cause?

In just three days, it became clear to him that he had to take immediate action to manage the situation. This involved releasing a video (characteristic of him starting by addressing his “Prims” and sitting on a throne) where he acknowledged his deception.

In the documentary, he admitted that he hadn’t anticipated the intense public scrutiny, which proved challenging for him. He shared that he filmed certain segments numerous times to achieve the ideal result, and he would often let videos play on loop to boost viewership. His primary motivation behind his actions was a mission to raise awareness about young men’s mental health, a cause close to his heart due to his personal fitness journey. In conclusion, he vowed to improve himself starting from that moment. Following this, he stepped away from social media and faced a $25 million lawsuit from customers who accused him of fraudulent activities (the case was eventually dismissed).

Three years on, is he really sorry?

Last year when I had the opportunity to visit Johnson’s ranch for the first time, I felt like I was meeting the very person I knew online – he didn’t disappoint! His actions were bold, flamboyant, and truly unexpected. He seemed determined to surprise us at every turn, keeping us on our toes as we wondered what would happen next.

Some of the stunts he performed for our team were nothing short of extraordinary. I remember his family chasing a bull, killing it, and then eating its organs right there. And there was the time when he towed a truck by a chain around his waist – though later we found out that his team was secretly pushing the truck from behind.

After their second voyage together, “It became apparent that there was a hidden aspect of him we hadn’t seen before.” Pearlman, age 37, speculates that his on-camera remorse isn’t primarily about saving his business, but rather stems from his desire to be accepted. He yearns for affection, craves it, and seeks attention intensely.

As we approached the final stages of filming, it seemed evident that “he sought a new approach in his character. Whether he successfully achieved this or I facilitated it through the screen performance is another topic. However, I am confident that he aimed for such transformation.

In this film, Untold: The Liver King, director Pearlman effectively captures the underlying unease: Why amplify the voice of a known liar, whose questionable health advice could potentially harm countless individuals? “From my perspective as a documentary-maker,” Pearlman explains, “this film serves as a warning about the perils of someone who mysteriously peddles ideas that people are eager to believe in. That’s risky behavior.” “There’s a huge red flag on this movie,” he adds, “stay away from those who speak like this.

Pearlman believes that Johnson’s bombastic behavior and odd stunts provide sufficient evidence against him without requiring the documentary to directly criticize him. However, it’s important to note that Johnson has amassed wealth from his posts, and the young boys he claims to want to help are particularly susceptible to consuming his misinformation as truth. A survey published by the European Parliament last year revealed that 42% of individuals aged 16-30 obtain their news from social media, with 76% encountering misleading information online within a week of the study. Those who grew up before the rise of social media might find it easier to disregard his excessive statements, but there’s concern that younger generations will continue to fall prey to this kind of deception.

Johnson ponders in the movie, ‘What’s the way to make amends?’ He admits that he doesn’t know what comes after this point, and he hasn’t found the answer yet. However, about six months later, it seems like inspiration has struck him – he intends to establish 302 retreat centers promoting ancient ways of life. Additionally, there are more apologies given for good measure. By the end of the film, he declares, “I want the world to understand that I was mistaken… I got everything wrong,” sandwiched between expressing gratitude towards a homegrown strawberry for sustaining him and performing a sort of baptism.

As I witness this Damascene moment unfold, I can’t help but approach it with a healthy dose of skepticism, especially considering Johnson’s past criminal activities such as illegally printing money and engaging in international drug trafficking, which he himself admitted to only minutes ago. Pearlman mentions there were many more things left out of the documentary. It’s truly unfortunate that these late revelations don’t seem to be getting the attention or scrutiny they deserve.

Rather than Johnson, we’re left with him as the questionable storyteller of his own tale. In “Untold,” he maintains that 99% of what I would propose to you is the truth, and his assertion carries a stronger odor of raw bluff than his testicle meal.

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2025-05-13 18:06

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