Shivangi Sinha
Netflix’s ‘Untold: The Liver King’ explores the deeper, lesser-known sides of social media personality Brian Johnson, known as the Liver King. Famous for promoting a raw organ meat diet and ancestral living, Johnson gained massive online attention for his extreme lifestyle. However, his rise was marred by controversy when it was revealed that he had secretly used anabolic steroids despite publicly claiming otherwise. In the documentary, Johnson confronted these tough questions head-on and offered candid answers about his choices and the fallout.
Brian Johnson Claimed He Overcame a Lot of Insecurities Through His Fitness Journey
Brian Johnson, known widely as the Liver King, was born in the 1970s and grew up in a regular, stable household. His father, Phillip D. Johnson, served in the Air Force, and shortly after Brian’s birth in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, the family relocated to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Tragically, his father passed away while Brian and his brother were still young. The family received support to remain in San Antonio, where the two brothers were raised by their mother. Brian has often reflected on his childhood, describing it as challenging at times. He portrayed himself as a lanky, undersized kid who was frequently bullied by peers.
Brian said it was during his early years at the gym that he truly began to connect with himself. He spent most of his time there and found it to be a place where he could express himself freely and build confidence, especially as he struggled with a speech impediment that had affected his self-esteem. In 2014, he launched his own company, Ancestral Supplements, which offered products made from animal organs that he claimed promoted better health. However, little was publicly known about the company until 2021, when Brian began posting content on social media and gaining widespread attention as the Liver King.
With a heavily muscled, sculpted physique, Brian began uploading videos of himself consuming raw animal organs straight to the camera. These extreme displays were part of his promotion of what he called the “ancestral lifestyle,” which emphasized eating as our early human ancestors supposedly did, including raw meats, natural movement, sun exposure, and living in alignment with nature. He championed what he called the “9 Ancestral Tenets,” which included elements like sleep, sun, struggle, and eating. His message resonated with a growing online audience fascinated by extreme wellness trends and natural living.
Brian Johnson Has Apologized for Being Untruthful to His Audience
In late 2022, Brian Johnson’s carefully crafted image began to unravel when leaked emails surfaced, revealing that he had been using anabolic steroids while publicly denying any such use. The emails detailed cycles, dosages, and communications with health professionals, directly contradicting his claims of being “natty” (natural) and raising questions about the authenticity of his brand. The revelation shocked his followers and sparked widespread backlash, as many had viewed him as a symbol of raw, unenhanced strength and natural living. After denying these claims, he issued a public apology through a video in December 2022 and admitted that he had lied.
Addressing the controversy in the documentary, Johnson opened up about the fallout and admitted that he hadn’t fully understood the consequences of his choices at the time. He claimed that he was caught up in his rapid rise and desperate to reach a larger audience. While he acknowledged that using steroids was a serious lapse in judgment, he insisted it was only a small piece of his broader message about ancestral health, discipline, and personal transformation. He emphasized that his goal had always been to inspire others, even if his methods faltered along the way.
Brian Johnson Continues to Hold the Attention of Many Viewers
Following the steroid revelations, Brian Johnson faced intense backlash from both fans and fellow influencers. His follower count took a significant hit, and many in the fitness and wellness community criticized him for misleading the public. Despite the controversy, Johnson remains a prominent figure in the online fitness world. As of now, he has around 2.9 million followers on Instagram and 1.21 million subscribers on YouTube. Interestingly, across platforms, his total Instagram reach has bounced back and sits at approximately 6.1 million followers, showing that his influence endures even after the scandal.
Brian continues to produce similar content, centered around primal living and extreme health practices, but with some noticeable adjustments. He claims to have moved away from the extremes and has stated that he no longer uses synthetic performance enhancers. He has also shared that his diet now includes a wider variety of foods, including more vegetables. His messaging has evolved to emphasize a deeper respect for nature. He’s spoken about the importance of thanking the plants and animals before consuming them, framing his lifestyle as not just about strength, but about spiritual alignment with the natural world.
Brian Johnson is Leading Two Thriving Businesses Today
Brian Johnson is a graduate of Texas Tech University, where he studied biochemistry. After college, he worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative in Houston, Texas. Some reports also indicate that he supported his wife’s dental practice during that time, gaining experience in both health-related fields and business operations. These early career steps laid the groundwork for what would become Ancestral Supplements, a company he founded in 2014 and still leads today as CEO.
Far more than just a supplement line, it has grown into a holistic lifestyle brand promoting what Johnson refers to as a “masculine” way of living—one that emphasizes physical strength, primal nutrition, and a return to ancestral values. The company markets a range of organ-based supplements, but also promotes ideas around discipline, resilience, and natural health practices. In addition to this, Johnson is the owner of another supplement company called Tip of the Spear, further expanding his footprint in the wellness and performance space. Despite setbacks, he continues to build his brand around a vision of ancestral living adapted for the modern world.
Brian Johnson’s Family Has Fully Embraced the Ancestral Lifestyle Too
Brian Johnson’s personal life is deeply intertwined with his brand, and his family plays a central role in the lifestyle he promotes. He is married to Barbara Johnson, better known to their followers as the Liver Queen. Like her husband, Barbara is a prominent influencer in her own right, sharing her own journey of ancestral living and wellness. The couple has been together for many years, and their love story is as unconventional as their lifestyle. After the first meeting, they got engaged just two months later while on Matangi Island in Fiji. Another two months after that, they were married in Nevis, a small island in the West Indies. Their quick yet lasting union has become a point of pride in their story.
Together, Brian and Barbara are raising two sons, Stryker and Rad, who are now 17 and 15 years old, respectively. Much like their parents, the boys also follow the ancestral lifestyle, complete with raw organ meats, rigorous exercise, and a focus on discipline and natural living. Their family also includes four loyal Dobermans—Axe, Mace, Dobber, and Tundra—who often appear in their social media content. Despite their busy schedules and high-profile presence online, Brian and Barbara prioritize spending quality time together. They make it a point to escape to the mountains each week for outdoor adventures, and their home base remains in Houston, Texas, where they continue to live out and promote the lifestyle they’ve built together.
