'IT WAS A lie'
Liver King: Bodybuilder admits using steroids after claiming ‘ancestral lifestyle’ made him buff and issues an apology
A BODYBUILDER dubbed the “Liver King” who claimed his diet of raw meat was behind his toned physique has admitted taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Brian Johnson initially claimed he achieved his muscley figure thanks to a diet that includes raw liver and other animal organs such as testicles.
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But leaked emails show he spends up to £9,000 a month on steroids.
Johnson, who lives in Austin, Texas, became famous for his toned body and unusual eating habits in August 2021 when he began sharing insights into his everyday life.
His “primal fare” diet, which is part of nine “tenets” programme he sold for a profit to customers, also includes animal lungs and testicles.
He told his fans they too could become buff by following his diet and hitting the gym.
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But the dad-of-two admitted to taking steroids after being accused by another bodybuilder of using performance-enhancing drug.
They also said they have accessed leaked emails allegedly sent by Johnson to back up the claims.
Johnson later apologised for "misleading" fans in a video posted on YouTube.
He said: "When asked if I've ever taken steroids I've always said no, I don't touch the stuff. That was a lie."
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The 44-year-old told his 220,000 followers that he has experimented with testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH).
Johnson previously said his body is 100 percent natural and is kept in shape by intense workouts and his diet.
The confession comes after growing online scrutiny of the bodybuilder and leaked emails that showed Johnson discussing his drug use.
In an hour-long video posted on the YouTube channel “More Plates More Dates” which is dedicated to working out whether bodybuilders are “natty [natural] or not”, the host, known only as Derek, says he unearthed the emails.
The correspondence showed Johnson confessing he wanted to grow the “Liver King” brand and admitting to spending a sizeable £9,000 a month on HGH.
The emails are said to have been sent to an unnamed coach in 2021, the same year the Liver King started posting on Instagram and building up his fanbase of more than 1.7million followers.
Many were quick to blast the muscleman, with some hoping it would encourage other fitness influencers to be honest about their steroid use.
One commented: “This was bound to happen. I’m surprised he lasted as long as he did.”
Another said: "Hopefully this is a watershed moment for the fitness industry and will lead to greater transparency."
A third person wrote: “Man it’s great to see it finally made perfectly clear that what we all knew was true. I feel bad for the few people who believed he was natty.”
Johnson was previously accused of taking steroids.
When podcast giant Joe Rogan alluded to his possible drug use, Johnson said he was simply happy to be exposed to a wider audience.
The hosts of the Barstool Sports podcast Pardon My Take also accused him of taking PEDs - performance-enhancing drugs.
In response though Johnson said: "I’ll be honest, I take PEDs: I prioritise, execute and dominate every f**king morning.”
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Johnson wrote in an email to the publication that his “message has always been about” the thousands of people who attempt or die by suicide each day, noting that “our people are hurting at record rates with depression, anxiety, autoimmune, infertility and low ambition in life… our young men are hurting the most… lost, weak and submissive.”
He pitched his Ancestral Living brand as the “solution,” and emphasised: “This is my fight!”
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