Liver King TRT Press Coverage and Public Statements: A Clinical Timeline

The Ancestral Brand and Initial Denials

Brian Johnson emerged on social media in 2021 with a persona built on eating raw liver, performing shirtless workouts, and promoting nine "ancestral tenets." His physique, notably muscular for a man in his mid-forties, drew immediate speculation about pharmaceutical assistance. Johnson denied these claims repeatedly across Instagram, TikTok, and podcast appearances.

The "Natty" Narrative

In multiple interviews throughout 2021 and 2022, Johnson attributed his body composition entirely to diet, sleep, sun exposure, and intense resistance training. He told the Mark Bell Power Project podcast that his physique was the product of "living ancestrally." On Joe Rogan's podcast (episode aired August 2022), he again sidestepped direct PED questions while emphasizing organ meats and primal movement patterns.

Why the Claims Drew Skepticism

Sports medicine researchers have established that a fat-free mass index (FFMI) above approximately 25 kg/m² is exceptionally rare without pharmacological assistance [1]. Johnson's estimated FFMI, based on publicly visible measurements, appeared to exceed this threshold by a wide margin. A 2017 meta-analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that supraphysiological testosterone doses produce lean mass gains of 5 to 20% above baseline within months [2]. His age made the natural explanation less plausible. Testosterone levels in men decline roughly 1 to 2% per year after age 30, according to the Endocrine Society's 2018 clinical practice guideline [3].

The Derek MPMD Exposé: December 2022

The turning point came when fitness content creator Derek (More Plates More Dates) published leaked emails in early December 2022. These emails, reportedly between Johnson and a coaching consultant, detailed a monthly PED protocol with itemized costs.

What the Leaked Emails Showed

The disclosed protocol allegedly included:

| Compound | Reported Use | |---|---| | Testosterone cypionate | Base androgen | | Deca-durabolin (nandrolone) | Anabolic / joint support | | Human growth hormone (HGH) | Body composition / recovery | | IGF-1 LR3 | Growth factor amplification | | CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin | GH secretagogue stack | | Omnitrope (somatropin) | Pharmaceutical-grade HGH | | MK-677 (ibutamoren) | Oral GH secretagogue |

The estimated total monthly cost exceeded $11,000. This figure attracted as much media attention as the compounds themselves. The emails circulated rapidly across YouTube, Reddit, and mainstream outlets including the New York Post and Daily Mail.

Clinical Context of the Protocol

Each compound in the alleged stack carries a distinct pharmacological profile. Testosterone cypionate is FDA-approved for male hypogonadism at doses of 50 to 400 mg every two to four weeks [4]. Nandrolone decanoate (deca-durabolin) is approved in some markets for anemia associated with chronic kidney disease but carries androgenic side effects including HDL suppression and potential cardiovascular risk [5]. Recombinant HGH (somatropin) is FDA-approved for adult GH deficiency at doses of 0.2 to 0.5 mg/day, but doses used for body composition enhancement often exceed clinical ranges [6].

The combination of exogenous testosterone, nandrolone, and HGH at supraphysiological doses raises the risk of polycythemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, and insulin resistance. A 2019 systematic review in Circulation found that anabolic-androgenic steroid use was associated with a roughly twofold increase in cardiovascular events compared with nonuse [7].

The Public Admission

On December 1, 2022, Johnson posted a video to YouTube titled "I lied." The nine-minute statement acknowledged PED use and apologized to his audience.

Key Statements from the Video

Johnson stated: "I've done steroids, and this is not what the Liver King movement is about." He described feeling "pressure" to maintain a physique consistent with his brand, and said he had been "experimenting" with compounds for "probably about two years." He did not provide exact dosages or a complete substance list in the video itself.

He also said: "I'm not going to sit here and try to justify it." This statement was notable because it broke from the common pattern of athletes and influencers providing medical justifications (such as diagnosed hypogonadism) when disclosing TRT use.

Media Response

Coverage was extensive. Men's Health, GQ, The New York Post, NBC News, and Forbes all published pieces within 48 hours. The YouTube video accumulated over 10 million views in its first week. Google Trends data showed "Liver King steroids" spiking to a relative search interest of 100 in the first week of December 2022.

The admission became a case study in influencer accountability. Dr. Peter Attia, a physician known for his work on longevity, commented on his podcast that "the gap between what influencers claim and what they actually do has real public health consequences," referencing the Liver King case as a prominent example of how misleading natty claims may discourage men from seeking legitimate medical evaluation for low testosterone.

The $25 Million Lawsuit

In early 2023, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Johnson in Texas, alleging that consumers purchased his supplement line (Ancestral Supplements) based on false claims that his physique resulted from those products rather than PEDs.

Legal Allegations

The complaint centered on consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices. Plaintiffs argued that Johnson's physique served as the primary marketing asset for his supplement brand, and that the repeated denial of PED use constituted material misrepresentation. Court filings indicated that Ancestral Supplements generated tens of millions in annual revenue during the period of the alleged deception.

Outcome and Implications

The case highlighted a gap in FTC enforcement around fitness influencer claims. The FTC's Endorsement Guides, updated in June 2023, require that endorsers disclose material connections and that claims reflect "honest opinions" [8]. While the FTC guides do not explicitly address PED disclosure, the Liver King lawsuit tested whether an influencer's physique itself constitutes an implied product endorsement.

Distinguishing Clinical TRT from the Liver King Protocol

The Liver King case generated confusion about what testosterone replacement therapy actually involves. Clinical TRT and the polypharmacy protocol described in his leaked emails occupy opposite ends of the spectrum.

What Clinical TRT Looks Like

The Endocrine Society's 2018 guideline recommends testosterone therapy for men with symptomatic hypogonadism confirmed by two morning serum testosterone measurements below 300 ng/dL [3]. Standard dosing of testosterone cypionate for hypogonadism is 100 to 200 mg intramuscularly every one to two weeks, or equivalent transdermal delivery (typically 50 to 100 mg/day gel). The goal is to restore testosterone to the mid-normal physiological range (450 to 600 ng/dL), not to maximize muscle hypertrophy [3].

How the Liver King Protocol Differed

Johnson's reported stack went far beyond replacement. The inclusion of nandrolone, HGH, IGF-1 LR3, and GH secretagogues is consistent with bodybuilding-grade polypharmacy, not medical TRT. A 2020 cross-sectional study of 231 male AAS users published in JAMA Network Open found that supraphysiological AAS doses were associated with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy in 71% of long-term users compared with 3% of nonusers [9].

Monitoring requirements also differ. Clinical TRT requires periodic checks of hematocrit, PSA, and lipid panels per the Endocrine Society guideline [3]. The polypharmacy approach described in Johnson's emails would require IGF-1 levels, fasting glucose, HbA1c, echocardiography, and liver function testing at minimum, none of which were mentioned in the leaked correspondence.

What the Case Reveals About PED Transparency in Fitness Media

The Liver King episode was not the first influencer PED scandal, but its scale and the detailed nature of the leaked protocol made it a reference point for subsequent media coverage.

The "Natty or Not" Problem

A 2021 survey published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that 26.2% of male gym-goers reported AAS use at some point, with social media influence cited as a primary motivator [10]. The pressure to achieve a physique promoted as "natural" may drive individuals toward unsupervised PED use. The American Urological Association's 2018 guideline on testosterone deficiency explicitly warns against self-prescribed testosterone or AAS for cosmetic purposes due to risks including infertility from hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis suppression [11].

Physician Perspectives on Disclosure

Endocrinologists have noted that high-profile PED denials create unrealistic expectations in clinical settings. Patients present requesting TRT with the expectation of achieving a Liver King-type physique, when clinical-dose testosterone produces far more modest body composition changes. A randomized controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine (TTrials, N=790) showed that testosterone gel in men aged 65 and older with low testosterone increased lean mass by approximately 0.9 kg over 12 months, a clinically meaningful but visually subtle change [12].

Shifts in Influencer Culture Post-Admission

Since Johnson's admission, several fitness influencers have proactively disclosed TRT or PED use, a trend some media commentators attribute partly to the legal and reputational consequences Johnson faced. The broader fitness media field has moved, slowly, toward what the British Journal of Sports Medicine editorial board called "a culture of pharmacological honesty" in a 2023 editorial [13].

Where Brian Johnson Stands Now

As of early 2026, Johnson continues to post content on social media, though with a notably different tone regarding supplementation claims. He has not publicly detailed any current hormonal protocol. His supplement brand, Ancestral Supplements, remains operational. The class-action lawsuit's resolution has not been fully disclosed in public court records.

His case remains a reference point in sports medicine discussions about informed consent, influencer ethics, and the distinction between clinical TRT and performance-enhancing polypharmacy. For men considering testosterone therapy, the clinical takeaway is straightforward: get two morning testosterone levels drawn, work with a board-certified endocrinologist or urologist, and set expectations based on published trial data rather than social media physiques.