Liver King, who eats testicles and organs, admits intense carnivore diet was wrong and apologizes for hiding steroid use
In a stunning revelation, Brian Johnson, widely known as the Liver King, has admitted in a new Netflix documentary that his extreme carnivore diet was misguided.
The documentary, Untold: The Liver King , premiered on May 13, 2025, and chronicles the rise and fall of the social media influencer who built a multimillion-dollar empire on raw meat and an “ancestral lifestyle.”
Johnson also confessed to using steroids, contradicting years of claims that his physique was achieved naturally.
These admissions have sparked widespread debate about health misinformation and the responsibility of fitness influencers.
The Rise of the Liver King
Brian Johnson, born in 1978 in San Antonio, Texas, transformed from a self-described “runt” into the Liver King, a social media sensation with millions of followers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Inspired by his idol, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and his love for the gym, which he called “the most beautiful f***ing playground,” Johnson embraced an ancestral lifestyle.
This included consuming large amounts of raw animal organs—liver, bull testicles, tongue, thymus, bone marrow, kidneys, and fertilized eggs—for over 15 years, alongside his wife, the “Liver Queen,” and their two children.
His dietary philosophy stemmed from reading Mark Sisson’s book while researching ways to help his children overcome anaphylactic shock.
Johnson claimed this “nose-to-tail” diet cured his sons’ health issues and allergies.
In 2016, he launched Ancestral Supplements, a company selling organ-based supplements, which reportedly generates over $100 million annually.
“And that’s when I decided, holy sh**, organs are really f***ing awesome,” he recalls in the documentary.
His nine “ancestral tenets”—sleep (on a wooden pallet), eat (carnivore diet), move, shield (from Wi-Fi and cellphones), connect (barefoot with the Earth), cold (ice baths), sun, fight, and bond (with family)—became a mantra for his growing fanbase.
Johnson’s rise was meteoric. “I felt new levels of invisibility. That kind of feeling is dangerous,” he admits, reflecting on his fame.
He adds, “I used to hate my f***ing life, and now I’ve made my f***ing fortune.”
His extreme practices, like hunting and eating raw animal organs, captivated audiences, though some claims—like not getting sunburnt—raised eyebrows.
The Steroid Scandal
Johnson’s empire faced a seismic blow in November 2022 when leaked emails exposed that he was spending over $11,000 a month on anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.
This revelation contradicted his repeated denials of steroid use.
In an earlier interview, he insisted, “The question has always been, ‘Do you take steroids? Do you take [performance-enhancing drugs]?’ The answer to that is no. I’ve always told the truth, I still tell the truth.”
The leaked emails, exposed by a YouTuber, forced Johnson to confront the truth.
“There’s no denying that man. I knew he got me,” he says in the documentary.
In a tearful YouTube apology, he confessed, “Yes, I’ve done steroids, and yes, I am on steroids monitored and managed by trained hormone clinicians.”
He admitted to misleading his followers, saying, “I lied and misled a lot of people.”
When asked by producers if he misled people, he responded frankly, “Absolutely. Yeah.”
The backlash was swift. Fans felt betrayed, and some filed a $25 million lawsuit alleging fraud and deception, though the case was later dropped.
Johnson’s reputation as a natural fitness icon crumbled, with critics labeling him a fraud and snake oil salesman.
The scandal threatened his businesses, career, and public image.
A Troubled Past
Adding to the documentary’s revelations, Johnson disclosed a troubled youth.
At age 16, he turned to crime, printing money, stealing from his employer, and converting his apartment into a “chemistry lab” for drugs.
“My perception of risk is becoming distorted,” he reflects. “I just never got caught.”
This glimpse into his past provides context for his later pursuit of extreme lifestyles and the pressures that may have driven his deceptions.
Admission of Dietary Misguidance
The documentary’s most shocking moment comes when Johnson admits he was wrong about the carnivore diet.
For years, he shunned fruits, vegetables, grains, and anything not derived from meat, poultry, or eggs.
In a poignant scene, he is seen foraging for berries and expressing gratitude for fruits—a stark departure from his previous stance.
“I was so convinced all the carnivore stuff, that’s what you need to really kick ass in life,” he says. “I’m convinced now that I was starving myself.”
Johnson’s candor deepens as he confesses, “I guess I want the world to know I was wrong. I got it wrong. I got all of it wrong. I think as each passing day goes by, I realize I don’t know s***.”
“There’s a lot more that I don’t know than I do know. Like an extreme approach to anything probably ain’t f***ing working out.”
He has since incorporated fruits and vegetables into his diet, marking a significant shift from his former ideology.
Embracing this change, Johnson added a tenth tenet to his lifestyle: “Evolve.” He reflects on his transformation, saying, “People say s*** like ‘born again,’ I don’t f***ing know what… How to describe it…“
“Other than I feel like I was just kind of meandering through, like I was the f***ing zombie of life.”
“I was so intense and so focused on growth and numbers and getting the message out… Now, I have this new freedom. I don’t have to lie about anything anymore.”
Expert Criticisms of the Carnivore Diet
Health experts have long criticized the carnivore diet for its potential risks.
Herman Pontzer, a professor at Duke University, disputes Johnson’s portrayal of ancestral diets as meat-heavy.
“There’s no evidence that any human population has ever eaten a carnivore-like diet,” Pontzer says, noting that early humans consumed fruits, vegetables, starchy plants, and honey.
Nancy Oliveira, manager of the nutrition and wellness service at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, highlights the diet’s lack of fiber, which can cause constipation and harm the gut microbiome.
She suggests a Paleo diet, which includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, as a healthier alternative.
The diet’s high saturated fat content also raises concerns about cardiovascular health and cholesterol levels.
| Criticism | Expert | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Misleading Ancestral Claims | Herman Pontzer, Duke University | No evidence of carnivore-like diets in human history; early humans ate varied diets with plants. |
| Lack of Fiber | Nancy Oliveira, Brigham and Women’s Hospital | Causes constipation, harms gut microbiome; Paleo diet recommended instead. |
| Cardiovascular Risks | General Expert Consensus | High saturated fat linked to heart disease and high cholesterol. |
Impact on Followers and Broader Implications
Johnson’s admissions have left his followers divided. Some feel betrayed by his lies about steroid use and his dietary claims, prompting them to question the validity of his advice.
Others may see his willingness to evolve as a sign of authenticity, though rebuilding trust will be challenging.
The documentary underscores the broader issue of health misinformation spread by influencers, highlighting the need for greater scrutiny and regulation in the wellness industry.
The controversy has also sparked discussions about the psychological effects of fitness culture and the pressures to achieve idealized physiques.
His admissions in Untold: The Liver King—that he was wrong about the carnivore diet and misled followers about steroids—mark a pivotal moment.
By embracing fruits, vegetables, and a new tenet of “Evolve,” Johnson seeks redemption.
Yet, his story raises critical questions about the influence of social media personalities and the responsibility they bear for the health advice they promote.
As he puts it, “I don’t have to lie about anything anymore. I have this new freedom.”
