"Liver King and Liver Queen's Fall: From Ancestral Lifestyle to Netflix Scandal"
01, May 2025
1. The Origins of Liver King and Liver Queen
Brian Johnson, better known as the "Liver King", began his rise on social media around 2021. His extreme lifestyle—eating raw animal organs, walking barefoot, and cold plunging—was framed around what he called the "9 Ancestral Tenets". These tenets included sleep, eat, move, shield, connect, cold, sun, fight, and bond. Each was presented as a return to primal living, meant to restore vitality lost in the modern world.
His wife, Barbara Johnson (aka “Liver Queen”), was equally pivotal in the brand’s growth. Originally a dental surgeon, Barbara gradually adopted the ancestral lifestyle alongside her husband. She too shared content featuring their two sons (referred to as "The Savage Liver Boys"), making the family seem like a tribe devoted to nature and health.
2. The Empire They Built
The Liver King brand wasn’t just about content—it was also a business empire. Johnson co-founded "Ancestral Supplements", a company that sold organ-based nutritional supplements like beef liver capsules, heart, spleen, and more. These supplements were marketed as the next evolution of biohacking, and they quickly became bestsellers on Amazon and other platforms.
At the peak of his influence, Liver King was reportedly earning over $100 million annually from supplements, affiliate sales, and sponsorships. His popularity grew so much that he appeared on major podcasts like “Impulse” and “The Diary of a CEO”, and featured in fitness expos and influencer collaborations.
He frequently emphasized that his physique—bulging muscles, ripped abs, and all—came from discipline, raw meat, and ancestral wisdom. He repeatedly denied using any performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) or steroids.
3. The Steroid Scandal Uncovered
In late 2022, fitness YouTuber Derek from “More Plates More Dates” leaked a series of private emails between Brian Johnson and his medical advisors. These emails included detailed steroid cycles, revealing that Johnson had been using anabolic steroids like Omnitrope (a growth hormone), testosterone injections, and more—spending over $11,000 per month on these substances.
The leak shocked the fitness and wellness community. Johnson's entire brand rested on the premise of natural living. Now, with undeniable proof of steroid use, the backlash was immediate and widespread.
4. Legal Troubles and Fallout
Following the revelations, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Brian Johnson and his supplement company. Plaintiffs accused him of false advertising, misleading health claims, and manipulating consumers into buying expensive products under the belief they could achieve similar results naturally.
The lawsuit claimed $25 million in damages, arguing that Johnson’s dishonesty directly influenced consumer purchasing behavior. Although Johnson later issued a public apology video, admitting to steroid use, many saw it as too little, too late.
5. The Role of Liver Queen
Barbara Johnson, while not directly involved in the steroid scandal, was also scrutinized. As Liver Queen, she endorsed the same products and lifestyle. Critics argued that she had a responsibility to question or expose the deception, especially given her background as a healthcare professional.
Online commentators began to question her role: Was she unaware, complicit, or also manipulating the public? Some defended her, suggesting she was dragged into the spectacle by her husband’s ambition. Others were less sympathetic, viewing her as a co-conspirator in the health hoax.
6. The Netflix Documentary: “Untold: The Liver King”
Netflix announced a new documentary, "Untold: The Liver King", premiering May 13, 2025, which promises to reveal the full story behind the Johnsons' rise and fall.
The film includes:
-
Interviews with whistleblowers and insiders from Ancestral Supplements.
-
Commentary from fitness experts and health professionals.
-
Never-before-seen footage from inside the Liver King household.
-
Details of the steroid use timeline and its concealment.
With Netflix’s massive global reach, especially in English-speaking countries, the documentary is expected to reignite the controversy and shed light on influencer culture’s dark side.
7. Public Backlash and Cultural Impact
The Liver King scandal became more than just a fitness drama—it sparked a broader cultural conversation about influencer honesty, body image pressure, and health misinformation.
Fitness influencers, especially those promoting extreme diets and supplement regimens, came under renewed scrutiny. The case also highlighted how consumers are often misled by charismatic personalities who seem trustworthy but are driven by profit.
Memes, parodies, and reaction videos flooded TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Hashtags like #LiverLie and #FakeNattyKing trended for weeks.
Meanwhile, some of his followers expressed feeling “scammed” after investing in the lifestyle and purchasing products under false pretenses. Others called for stricter regulations on health influencers and supplement advertising.