Pic: Joe Rogan threatened, challenged by influencer
A social media influencer was arrested on Tuesday after reportedly threatening podcaster Joe Rogan and challenging him to a 'fight.'
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Brian Johnson, known as the social media influencer 'Liver King,' was arrested on Tuesday evening by law enforcement officials and charged with making a terroristic threat after appearing to threaten Rogan and challenging him to a 'fight' in multiple videos on social media. TMZ reported that Rogan told police officials that he viewed the videos as threats to his safety.
In a Monday video on Instagram, Johnson said, 'Joe Rogan, I'm calling you out. My name's Liver King. Man to man, I'm picking a fight with you. I have zero training in jiu-jitsu. You're a black belt, you should dismantle me. But I'm picking a fight with you. Your rules.'
According to NBC News, Johnson also challenged Rogan to a 'man to man' fight in another video, saying, 'You never come across something like this, willing to die, hoping that you'll choke me out because that's a dream come true.'
TMZ reported that police records indicate that Rogan issued a statement to law enforcement officials following the public threats and challenges. Rogan reportedly told police that he had never been in contact with Johnson and did not know why he would 'be targeting him.' The outlet noted that Rogan also accused the social media influencer of being 'significantly unstable' and having 'a significant drug issue.'
READ MORE: Video: Joe Rogan reveals 2 fmr. presidents called Spotify amid Covid controversy: Report
According to the documents obtained by TMZ, Rogan told police officers that Johnson 'appears to be significantly unstable and seems like he needs help' after watching the videos on social media.
According to TMZ, Johnson reportedly traveled from Willis, Texas, to Austin, Texas, which is where Rogan lives. The outlet noted that law enforcement officials arrested Johnson at a hotel on Tuesday night. A video shared on Instagram appears to show the social media influencer in police custody on Tuesday.
According to Fox News, Johnson was released from a Texas jail after his arrest on Tuesday night. The outlet noted that the social media influencer immediately returned to publishing videos on social media on Wednesday.
According to TMZ, Johnson became known as 'Liver King' after building a major social media following as a fitness influencer. Fox News reported that Johnson is known for his animalistic diet.
A picture of Johnson was shared on X, formerly Twitter.
They arrested Liver King over wanting to kill Joe Rogan pic.twitter.com/lROQxZQ1t5 — Kaguya's Top Gal (@hayasaka_aryan) June 25, 2025
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Chicago Tribune
34 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
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Today in Chicago History: Divvy debuts downtown
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 28, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) Vintage Chicago Tribune: Chicago Cubs who have hit for the cycle1950: The Chicago Cubs' Roy Smalley hit for the cycle against the St. Louis Cardinals. Vintage Chicago Tribune: Pelé, Hamm, Beckham, Rapinoe, Messi and more. When soccer's big names came to play1998: With hundreds of young fans screaming her name, Mia Hamm notched her eighth career hat trick — three goals in a 20-minute span — when the United States women's national team defeated Germany 4-2 at Soldier Field. 2010: Decades after torture allegations were first leveled against former Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge's 'Midnight Crew,' a federal jury convicted him on all three counts of obstruction of justice and perjury for lying in a lawsuit about the torture of suspects in attempts to obtain confessions. He was sentenced to prison and released in 2014. Burge died in 2018. Also in 2010: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Chicago's gun ban was 'unenforceable,' stating Americans nationwide have a constitutional right to have a handgun at home for self-defense, even in cities which until then had outlawed handguns. Yet, the court stopped short of overturning the ban. 2013: Divvy began its bicycle-sharing program in Chicago. Community group retrieves over 60 Divvy bikes from Lake Michigan since JuneThere were some initial technical glitches, but its operations expanded from 68 docking stations to a presence in every city ward. 2019: Cookie Monster from 'Sesame Street' visited the Art Institute of Chicago, Wrigley Field, The Bean and Navy Pier to celebrate the program's 50th anniversary. 'I'm excited to have Cookie Monster in Chicago, going to all the landmarks and taking pictures. … My Chicago home and my 'Sesame' work life are coming together,' said Highland Park resident David Rudman, puppeteer of Cookie Monster for 20 years. Also in 2019: Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Illinois Gaming Act into law, looking to bring in an additional $350 million in annual state revenue, and opening the door to sports wagering and other growth opportunities for gambling operators. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past.
