Anti-aging fanatic Bryan Johnson reportedly used NDAs to silence staff about bizarre behavior at work, discussed ‘sexual activities, including erections’

New York Post - Mar 21st, 2025
Open on New York Post

Bryan Johnson, a multimillionaire known for his extreme anti-aging regimen, has come under scrutiny for using nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence employees about his unusual workplace behavior. Allegations include him walking naked around the office and discussing personal sexual topics. Johnson's controversial health practices, which claim to reverse his age by 5.1 years, include taking 54 daily pills, using a nighttime erection tracker, and receiving blood transfusions from his teenage son. His practices have attracted media attention and resulted in a Netflix documentary, but former employees and partners have raised concerns about his use of NDAs to control information regarding his behavior.

The story highlights a broader narrative of Johnson's post-success lifestyle following the sale of his payments firm Braintree to PayPal. After divorcing his wife, he adopted a lavish lifestyle that included hiring sex workers and experimenting with psychedelics. His health startup, Blueprint, became the focus of his public image campaign, but allegations of a toxic work environment and restrictive NDAs have sparked legal battles. Taryn Southern, a former fiancée and employee, filed a lawsuit over these issues, which was moved to arbitration, resulting in her owing Johnson legal fees. This exposes the tension between public figures' private behavior and their public personas, raising questions about privacy, workplace ethics, and the limits of nondisclosure agreements in professional settings.

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RATING

5.8
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a detailed account of Bryan Johnson's controversial actions and anti-aging pursuits, capturing public interest with its focus on sensational claims and ethical debates. It effectively addresses timely and relevant issues, such as workplace ethics and privacy, which are of significant public interest. The story's clear language and logical structure make it accessible to a general audience, while its potential to provoke debate and challenge norms enhances its engagement and controversy scores.

However, the article's accuracy and balance are limited by its reliance on a single primary source and the lack of diverse perspectives. The absence of direct quotes and detailed attribution affects the credibility of the information, and the focus on negative aspects without sufficient counterarguments reduces the balance score. Additionally, the story could benefit from more transparency regarding its sources and methodology, as well as a deeper exploration of the broader implications of Johnson's actions.

Overall, while the article succeeds in capturing attention and addressing important issues, it could enhance its quality by providing more comprehensive analysis and diverse viewpoints.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The article presents a range of factual claims about Bryan Johnson, including his use of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), his anti-aging regimen, and his personal and professional conduct. The claims about Johnson's annual spending on anti-aging treatments, such as taking 54 pills daily and using a nighttime erection tracker, are specific but require verification from credible sources. The story references a report by The New York Times, which suggests a degree of reliability, but without direct access to the original report, the accuracy of these claims remains partially unverified.

The article also discusses Johnson's legal disputes with former employees, including a lawsuit filed by his ex-fiancée Taryn Southern. These claims are significant and need to be corroborated by legal documents or statements from involved parties. Additionally, the story mentions Johnson's claim of reversing his biological age by 5.1 years, which is contested by other reports suggesting an increase in his biological age. This discrepancy highlights the need for further scientific evaluation of his anti-aging methods.

Overall, while the article provides a detailed account of Johnson's activities and controversies, the reliance on a single source (The New York Times) and the lack of direct citations or evidence for some claims reduce its accuracy score.

5
Balance

The article predominantly focuses on negative aspects of Bryan Johnson's behavior and business practices, such as his use of NDAs and controversial anti-aging methods. It highlights allegations from former employees and legal disputes, painting a largely critical picture of Johnson. However, it does not provide Johnson's perspective or any statements from his representatives, which would be necessary for a balanced view.

While the article mentions Johnson's claim that his health routine saved his ex-fiancée from cancer, it does not explore this claim in depth or provide counterarguments from medical experts. This omission limits the range of perspectives presented. Additionally, the story could benefit from more context about Johnson's motivations and the potential benefits of his anti-aging regimen, if any, to provide a more nuanced view.

The lack of diverse viewpoints and the focus on allegations without sufficient counterbalance contribute to the article's moderate score in balance.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, making it accessible to a general audience. It provides a chronological narrative of Bryan Johnson's actions and controversies, which helps readers follow the story. The use of specific examples, such as Johnson's anti-aging regimen and legal disputes, adds to the clarity of the report.

However, the article occasionally lacks clarity in distinguishing between verified facts and allegations. For instance, the claims about Johnson's biological age reversal are juxtaposed with contradictory reports without a clear explanation of the scientific basis for either claim. This could lead to confusion among readers about the validity of the information.

Overall, while the article is well-structured and easy to read, the occasional lack of distinction between verified facts and allegations affects its clarity score.

6
Source quality

The primary source cited in the article is The New York Times, a reputable publication known for its investigative journalism. This lends some credibility to the claims made in the story. However, the article does not provide direct quotes or detailed attribution for the information obtained from The New York Times, which would enhance the credibility of the report.

The story also lacks a variety of sources. It relies heavily on unnamed sources, such as 'former friends and employees,' without providing specific names or credentials. This reliance on anonymous sources can affect the perceived reliability of the information, as it is difficult to assess the authority and potential biases of these sources.

Overall, while the use of a reputable source like The New York Times is a strength, the lack of direct attribution and reliance on anonymous sources limits the source quality score.

5
Transparency

The article does not provide sufficient transparency regarding its sources and the methods used to gather information. While it references a report by The New York Times, it does not specify how the information was obtained or whether any attempts were made to verify the claims independently.

There is also a lack of disclosure about potential conflicts of interest or biases in the reporting. For example, the article does not mention whether the author or publication has any connections to the parties involved in the story. Additionally, the story does not clarify the basis for some of the more sensational claims, such as Johnson's use of blood transfusions from his son or his alleged behavior at work.

The absence of clear methodology and source transparency reduces the article's score in this dimension, as readers are left without a full understanding of how the information was compiled.

Sources

  1. https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/us-millionaire-bryan-johnson-claims-his-plasma-reversed-fathers-age-by-25-years-2617306-2024-10-15
  2. http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=379884February
  3. https://economictimes.com/magazines/panache/can-biohacker-bryan-johnson-really-cheat-death-experts-sound-alarm-over-his-2-million-a-year-anti-aging-techniques/articleshow/119261988.cms
  4. https://ipscell.com/2023/01/skepticism-on-the-bryan-johnson-anti-aging-spectacle/
  5. https://economictimes.com/news/international/global-trends/andrew-tate-calls-bryan-johnsons-age-reversal-claims-fraudulent-millionaire-ceo-responds/articleshow/116462237.cms