The self-proclaimed “Liver King” of social media, who gained fame by claiming that a diet of raw animal organs helped him naturally gain his muscular physique, has been exposed as a heavy steroid user.
Brian Johnson, 45, gained millions of followers who watched him eat raw animal liver, bull testicles, cow lungs and other organs.
Johnson vowed to help fans unlock their “highest, most dominant form” by following an “ancient primordial” carnivorous diet.
Appearing in numerous podcasts, videos, and interviews, he has always been adamant that he obtained his Herculean physique naturally, without the use of any kind of steroids.
“The question has always been, ‘Do you take steroids? Do you take [performance enhancing drugs]?’ The answer to that is no. I have always told the truth, I continue to tell the truth,” she said on a podcast in October.
Approximately two months later, Liver King sits shirtless on a throne-like chair in a dimly lit space, apologizing to his followers.
In the YouTube video that has been viewed more than 2.8 million times, he comes clean and confesses his lies.
“Before social media, I was rich and anonymous, and after social media I’m still rich, but no longer anonymous. I never expected this kind of exposure,” he says.
“Yes, I have been on steroids. And yes, I am on steroids, supervised and managed by a hormone doctor.”
The confession came just days after Johnson was exposed by YouTube fitness star Derek, aka More Plates More Dates.
Derek showed his followers what he said were leaked emails from the Liver King asking for advice on his steroid use.
In the emails, Johnson allegedly said he was spending about $11,000 ($16,400) a month on steroids.
Young men adopting unrealistic standards
Dr Mair Underwood, an anthropologist who specializes in the study of bodybuilding culture at the University of Queensland, said the revelation came as no surprise.
“Anyone who is seriously interested in fitness would look at the Liver King’s body and say it’s an improved body,” he said.
And she said she was skeptical of Johnson’s claim that his quest for fame was motivated by a desire to help young men suffering from mental health issues.
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“It is wrong to say that you are [a natural bodybuilder] when you’re not, because you’re creating unrealistic expectations in fans who think they can look like you, and then when they can’t, they’re disappointed,” said Dr. Underwood.
“If you think, ‘All I have to do is eat a bull’s testicles and take these supplements, and then I’ll look like King Liver,’ and then you don’t get there, it’s really going to mess with your head and you might start to wonder what’s wrong.
“There’s nothing wrong with you, they’re lying to you. I think that’s dangerous for mental health.”
Steroid stigma in the bodybuilding community
According to Dr. Underwood, “fake natties,” bodybuilders who pretend to have achieved their size through purely natural means, are all too common.
“It’s especially common in the public eye, because there’s a lot of stigma attached to steroid use,” he said.
“I think people don’t talk about her use of enhancement drugs because they don’t want people to think it was just the steroids that built that body.
“People are reluctant to talk about the use of enhancement drugs, because they want to be recognized for the work they’ve put into building their bodies, rather than the general public thinking it’s just the steroids.”
“Honestly, it makes me and probably a lot of other people lose hope.”
Online reaction to Johnson’s steroid confession varied, with some fans still supporting him and praising him for his honesty, others expressing disappointment, and still others saying it came as no surprise.
“Look, what bothers me is that I have self-esteem issues with my body as well and I want to grow and honestly I feel like now I can’t grow for a long, long time because all these creators are doing [steroids]or unnatural substances,” said one YouTube commenter.
“So honestly it makes me and probably a lot of other people lose hope once we find out what you guys are doing behind the scenes of YouTube.”
“Rest in peace to all the raw eyeballs and testicles that were needlessly eaten to achieve this unattainable physique,” said another.
Dr. Underwood, who works with many bodybuilders, talked to some of them about Johnson.
“There seem to be two camps. One says it’s wrong to be fake because it creates unrealistic expectations, and the other says it motivates people to follow a healthy lifestyle, which already allows them to gain muscle before they even consider using steroids.” .
Still, Dr. Underwood said she didn’t think Johnson’s intentions were all bad.
“I have no doubt that Liver King has some good things to say. And I have no doubt that, on some level, he genuinely cares about what young men are going through. I can sympathize and I can understand why he lied,” he said. .
“I really hope that we can change as a society so that people like him don’t feel the need to lie about these things. And so that young men can make informed decisions about their health.”
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