Posted on 12/10/2022 3:16:34 PM PST by nickcarraway
Social media's self-proclaimed "Liver King", who gained fame by claiming a diet of raw animal organs helped him naturally obtain his muscular physique, has been exposed as a heavy steroid user.
Brian Johnson, 45, gained millions of followers who watched him eating raw animal liver, bull's testicles, cow's lungs and other organs.
Johnson promised to help fans unlock their "highest and most dominant form" by sticking to an "ancient primal" carnivorous diet.
Appearing on numerous podcasts, videos and in interviews, he always firmly maintained that he obtained his herculean physique naturally, without the use of any type of steroids.
"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", he said on a podcast in October.
About two months later, the Liver King sits shirtless on a throne-like chair in a dimly lit space, apologising to his followers.
In the YouTube video that has been viewed more than 2.8 million times, he comes clean and confesses his lies.
"Before social media, I was rich and anonymous and after social media, I'm still rich, but no longer anonymous. I never expected this kind of exposure," he says.
"Yes, I've done steroids. And yes, I'm on steroids, monitored and managed by a trained hormone clinician."
The confession came just a few days after Johnson was exposed by fellow fitness YouTube star Derek, aka More Plates More Dates.
Derek showed his followers what he said were leaked emails from the Liver King asking for advice on his steroid use.
In the emails, Johnson allegedly said he was spending about $US11,000 ($16,400) a month on steroids.
Young men adopting unrealistic standards
Dr Mair Underwood, an anthropologist who specialises in the study of bodybuilding culture at the University of Queensland, said the reveal did not come as a surprise.
"Anyone who's seriously into fitness would look at the Liver King's body and say that is an enhanced body," she said.
And she said she was sceptical about Johnson's claim that his quest for fame was motivated by a desire to help young men suffering from mental health issues.
"It is wrong to say that you are [a natural bodybuilder] when you're not, because you are creating unrealistic expectations in fans who think that they can look like you, and then when they can't, they are disappointed," Dr Underwood said.
"If you think, 'All I have to do is eat a bull's testicles and take these supplements and then I can look like the Liver King,' and then you don't get there, it's going to really mess with your head and you might start asking yourself what's wrong with you.
"There is nothing wrong with you, you're being lied to. I think that's dangerous for mental health."
Steroid stigma in bodybuilding community "Fake natties" — bodybuilders who pretend to have attained the size that they are by purely natural means — are very common, according to Dr Underwood.
"It's especially common in the public eye, because there is a lot of stigma attached to steroid use," she said.
"I think people don't talk about their enhancement drug use because they don't want people to think it was just the steroids that built that body.
"People are reluctant to come out about using enhancement drugs, because they want to be recognised for the work that it has taken to build their bodies, rather than the general public thinking it's just the steroids."
'It honestly makes me and probably a lot of other people lose hope'
Online reaction to Johnson's steroid confession varied, with some fans still supporting him and praising him for his honesty, others expressing their disappointment, and others saying it did not come as a surprise.
"See the thing that makes me upset is that I have self-esteem issues also with my body and want to get bigger and honestly feels like now I can’t get big for a long long time because all of these creators are doing [steroids], or non natural substances," said one YouTube commenter.
"So it honestly makes me and probably a lot of other people lose hope once we find out what you guys do behind the scene of YouTube."
"Rest In Peace to all the eyeballs and raw testicles that were needlessly eaten to attain this unattainable physique," said another.
Dr Underwood, who works with a lot of bodybuilders, spoke with some of them about Johnson.
"There seem to be two camps. One says it's wrong to be a fake natty because it creates unrealistic expectations, and the other says it motivates people to follow a healthy lifestyle, which already allows them to gain muscle before even considering using steroids."
Still, Dr Underwood said she did not believe Johnson's intentions were all bad.
"I have no doubt that Liver King has some good things to say. And I have no doubt that at some level, he really cares about what young men are going through. I can sympathise and I can understand why he lied," she said.
"I just really hope that we can change as a society so that people like him don't feel the need to lie about these things. And so young men can make informed decisions about their health."
Anyone who thought he was natural knows nothing of fitness and drugs.
I’m shocked. Shocked! I tell ya.
Also, “Thor” juiced, and the Rock juices.
Most actors that went through an “insane training regimen” and muscled up, juiced.
I saw him in 2001. Clearly not on ‘roids.
A sucker born every minute.
Do you really find this kind of man attractive?
If not, you have to wonder what the men are doing it all for. Maybe they want to impress other men?
No.
I can only imagine that with all his steroid abuse, he’s got a micro-penis if that answers your question.
Is it wise for a Senior to muscle-up with steroids?
Girls that want a dude like him are a niche market.
Usually ho bags with fake tits and take 100+ selfies a day.
Both usually have mental issues, and physical as well.
I abhor liver. After my medical education and finding out what the liver actually does biologically, it nauseates me even more.
I don’t know what women think of that kind of physique, but...as a guy, looking at someone holding up a nauseating thing like that...not attractive even in a masculine sense.
More like a nut.
I advise lifting weights, sprinting, walking/hiking, swimming, and yoga.
A healthy diet, low stress, quality sleep, and meditation.
Many Senior males would be fine with some TRT, which is far more mild and doctor monitored. (legal)
It’s still hard on one’s heart with that much mass. (Liver King) I would never recommend what he does to anyone, unless getting a ton of cash.
Steroids don’t make one’s penis shrink.
The testicles atrophy due to exogenous testosterone.
Anything a few pegs down from Arnold/Rock type physique (which is modest compared to Liver King) isn’t natural and if you see someone like that they’re definitely juicing. The dirty little secret is some of these drugs are getting so effective you could sit on your butt eating Doritos and still get better results with them then a guy who hits the gym all day 7 days a week. And its not even close, we’re talking orders of magnitude better.
Ick. No thank you. Looks like he belongs in a comic book or sideshow. Not only is it unattractive to normal women, we think these guys are super stuck on themselves — and we know heavy roid use when we see it, and don’t want to mixed up with all that goes with that. We also wonder if they’re gay or at least bi.
Is there some kind of hot/crazy matrix for men?
With different axes?
Instead of Hairdresser is Fitness Guru, maybe.
I’ve lifted for 30+ years. It’s surprising how many are either doing a high level TRT, or low dosing juice nowadays.
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