‘I thought it might be funny’
Disgraced influencer Brian “Liver King” Johnson shocked his followers by staging his own arrest in a bizarre video posted on Instagram. The clip showed Johnson being handcuffed by faux cops in a fake sting operation, only for him to later reveal that it was all just a prank.
The 47-year-old YouTuber, who is currently facing charges for allegedly making terroristic threats against podcaster Joe Rogan, seemed to find humor in the staged arrest. In a second video, Johnson confessed that he thought it would be funny to orchestrate the fake arrest.
Just days before this stunt, Johnson was actually arrested for real after traveling to Rogan’s hometown of Austin, Texas, and posting concerning videos about confronting the podcast host. He was booked into the Travis County Jail but was later released on bond with an ankle monitor and strict orders to stay away from Rogan and his family.
In the staged arrest video, Johnson’s ankle monitor was clearly visible, adding an extra layer of irony to his prank. The troubled influencer had landed himself in trouble with the law after sharing a series of aggressive videos targeting Rogan, challenging him to a fight despite having no formal training in martial arts.
Rogan, who had never met Johnson before, was baffled by the sudden attention and threats from the Liver King. While Johnson has never been a guest on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” his name has come up in discussions on the show regarding performance-enhancing drugs.
In a surprising turn of events, Johnson admitted in 2022 that his seemingly superhuman physique was actually the result of using steroids, after years of claiming that his extreme diet of raw meat and animal organs was the secret to his muscular build.
The Liver King’s antics have certainly kept him in the spotlight, though not always for the right reasons. As he continues to navigate legal troubles and public scrutiny, it remains to be seen what his next move will be in the ever-evolving world of social media influencers.
