A controversial fitness influencer known as "Liver King" has been arrested in Texas after allegedly threatening popular podcast host Joe Rogan on social media, according to authorities on Wednesday.
The Austin Police Department confirmed the arrest of Brian Johnson in a statement to NTD.
Johnson, 47, was taken into custody on Tuesday, after authorities were notified of the threats against Rogan made on the social media platform Instagram.
"Detectives reviewed the posts and observed that Johnson was traveling to Austin while continuing to make threatening statements," police said.
Rogan told police that he considered the posts to be threatening and had never interacted with Johnson.
Later that day, police located Johnson at the Four Seasons Hotel and took him into custody without incident.
Several recent videos shared on Johnson's social media account captured the moments leading up to his arrest. Johnson appeared to be preparing to be taken into custody and discussing plans with his team.
One video shows him wearing a tactical vest, hoodie, and sweatpants as police officers handcuffed him and placed him in the back of a police vehicle.
Johnson has amassed 2.9 million followers on Instagram and 6.1 million followers on TikTok.
Johnson in another video challenged him to a one-on-one "honorable" fight, saying he hopes Rogan would choke him out.
"We have real tension," Johnson told Rogan in the video.The comment stems from previous criticism Rogan made after leaked emails in 2022 exposed Johnson's steroid use and revealed the fitness influencer spent $11,000 a month on the performance-enhancing drugs. The host of "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast publicly criticized Johnson for claiming he achieved his muscular physique through promoting a raw meat diet.
NTD reached out to Rogan for comment but did not receive a response by publication.
In December 2022, Johnson publicly apologized and admitted to his steroid use while suggesting that his "pharmacological intervention" was monitored by a hormone clinician.
Johnson gained his popularity by branding an "ancestral lifestyle" which consists of consuming large amounts of raw meat and unprocessed animal organs, including liver. The self-proclaimed "savage, barbarian beast" also launched a successful supplements brand and has been known for his intense fitness challenges.
It remains unclear whether Johnson was released on bond as of Wednesday afternoon. NTD reached out to Johnson's team via social media for a statement but did not receive a response by publication.
The case is still an active investigation, according to Austin Police.