Brian Johnson, better known by his primal moniker The Liver King, didn’t just enter the health and fitness scene—he dominated it. With a larger-than-life persona and a diet that looked more like a Fear Factor challenge than a wellness regimen, Johnson built a massive online following by preaching the virtues of ancestral living.
His core message? Modern men are broken, and the solution lies in living like our caveman ancestors—eating raw animal organs, walking barefoot, enduring cold plunges, and rejecting the comforts of the modern world. His physique—hulking, vascular, and deeply tanned—was held up as proof that his lifestyle worked.
But it was all based on a lie. The Liver King steroid scandal was about to unfold.
The $11,000-a-Month Secret
In late 2022, Johnson’s primal kingdom came crashing down. Leaked emails revealed that the self-proclaimed natural athlete was using anabolic steroids, spending an eye-watering $ 11,000 USD per month on performance-enhancing drugs.
The documents, shared by fitness YouTuber Derek from More Plates More Dates, showed detailed drug protocols including growth hormone, insulin, and testosterone. The revelations were especially damning considering Johnson had repeatedly denied steroid use in interviews and videos, insisting that his shredded look was purely the result of liver, lifestyle, and lifting.
The backlash was swift. Millions felt betrayed. Influencers and critics piled on, and his credibility took a nosedive.
The Apology Heard Around the Internet
Just days after the leak, Johnson took to YouTube to issue a public apology. In a now-viral video titled “Liver King Confession,” he admitted to lying.
“I lied. And I regret it,” Johnson said. “I made a mistake by not being truthful, and I’m here to own it.”
In the video, he claimed his intention had never been to mislead anyone but to help struggling men find strength, purpose, and better health. While some accepted his apology, others saw it as too little, too late.
Netflix’s Untold: The Liver King Digs Deeper
The saga reached a new level of scrutiny with the release of Netflix’s documentary Untold: The Liver King on May 13, 2025. Directed by Joe Pearlman, the film takes an unflinching look at the rise, deception, and fallout surrounding one of social media’s most polarising fitness influencers.
Featuring interviews with Johnson, his wife Barbara (aka the “Liver Queen”), business partners, and critics, the documentary exposes the inner workings of his brand: how it was built, who benefitted, and how it started to unravel.
The film doesn’t just paint Johnson as a villain. It portrays him as a deeply insecure man, haunted by childhood trauma and an obsession with becoming “more than human.” In many ways, Untold suggests that Liver King was both a brand and a shield—a way to mask the very weaknesses he told others to confront.
Liver King’s Bro Science
At the height of his fame, Johnson’s supplement company, Ancestral Supplements, was raking in tens of millions annually. With a product line promising primal health benefits—everything from desiccated liver to bone marrow capsules—his audience wasn’t just buying into a lifestyle; they were funding an empire.
The Netflix documentary explores the grey area between biohacking and snake oil, raising questions about the ethics of influencer-driven health advice. It does not shy away from the now infamous liver king steroid scandal. How responsible should fitness influencers be for the claims they make? Where’s the line between inspiration and manipulation?
Still Jacked, Still Selling
Despite the steroid scandal, Johnson hasn’t vanished from the spotlight. In fact, he’s doubled down.
Today, he still appears shirtless on Instagram, still eating raw liver, and still promoting his brand. He claims to have ceased steroid use and has “recalibrated” his diet and training. Whether you believe him or not, the Liver King brand is still alive, albeit slightly bruised.
And that’s perhaps the most telling aspect of this entire saga: in the era of cancel culture, redemption is always just a click away, especially if you have a loyal tribe behind you.
The Real Lesson for Fitness Fans
At its core, Johnson’s story is a cautionary tale—not just about steroids, but about the dangers of idolising online personas. In the fitness space, authenticity is marketed as a virtue, but that doesn’t always mean it’s real.
From liver detox scams to fake “natural” influencers, the wellness industry is teeming with misinformation. The Liver King case forces us to ask:
- How much of what we see online is curated?
- What do we really value: truth, or results?
- And are we complicit in the very lies that entertain us?
Conclusion: The Myth of the Natural Alpha
Brian Johnson set out to become the ultimate symbol of masculine vitality. He created a character so extreme, so visually undeniable, that millions believed every bite of liver and every rep told a story of ancestral perfection.
But the truth, as revealed by science, screenshots, and Netflix, is far messier—and more human.
The Liver King didn’t just sell liver. He sold a fantasy. And the Liver King steroid scandal was uncovered. And now that fantasy has been exposed, perhaps it’s time to move past the myths and start demanding real evidence, real integrity, and real health from those who claim to lead us.
