Dutch sperm donor Jonathan Jacob Meijer now threatens to sue the streaming giant.
What if the person you like might be your half-sibling? What if you actually have hundreds of other siblings that you don’t know about? These are the shocking realities faced by families now after learning that the sperm donor they got has already fathered over 500 children.
Netflix’s latest documentary series, The Man with 1000 Kids, uncovers the unsettling truth about serial sperm donor Jonathan Jacob Meijer. Meijer deceived donation clinics and families by posing as a kind and charitable donor, but the series reveals his compulsion to father as many children as possible. Despite a court ban on donating more sperm to clinics, under the threat of a $107,000 fine per infraction, Meijer continues his activities through other means.
The Unsettling Truth About ‘The Man With 1000 Kids’
Released in early July, the three-part Netflix documentary The Man with 1000 Kids sheds light on the troubling actions of Dutch sperm donor Jonathan Jacob Meijer. Families who used Meijer’s sperm were shocked to learn the extent of his donations, raising profound ethical concerns. Despite lawsuits and efforts to stop him, the impact of his actions spans not only the Netherlands but across the globe.
Directed by Josh Allott and produced by Kathryn Taylor of London-based Curious Films, the series has sparked widespread discussion. It reveals how Meijer, a Dutch YouTuber and musician, deceived families and clinics, causing significant distress. In response, Meijer recently posted a YouTube video threatening to sue Netflix for slander, claiming misrepresentation in the documentary.
Meijer claims his inspiration to donate came from a friend struggling with infertility. In 2007, when he became at ease with the idea of being a donor, he signed up at a sperm bank to help couples start families. He soon began posting his photos on Dutch websites, attracting messages from women in various situations. Meijer insists he initially aimed to help only a few people and was selective in his donations.
Meijer’s lack of chronic or genetic diseases made him a desirable donor. He often made private visits to women, delivering sperm in a plastic cup or, occasionally, engaging in sexual intercourse. He never charged for his donations, only asking recipients to cover travel expenses and STD tests.
Before becoming a YouTube personality, Meijer worked as a civics teacher, mailman, and cryptocurrency consultant. His YouTube channel chronicles his travels, thoughts, music, and reasons for donating sperm. However, investigations revealed that Meijer registered with 11 sperm clinics worldwide and joined Facebook groups to contact prospective mothers.
While Meijer’s initial intentions might have seemed noble and altruistic, he violated laws by fathering more than the permissible 25 children. He falsely claimed exclusivity to clinics and understated his number of offspring to mothers. A 2017 investigation by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport found Meijer had fathered at least 102 children in the Netherlands alone, not counting private donations in various countries, like Australia, Italy, Germany, Serbia, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, Romania, Denmark, Sweden, Mexico, and the United States.
The Netflix documentary suggests Meijer could have fathered over a thousand children, placing him among so-called ‘super donors.’ This revelation has caused anger and frustration among viewers, leaving affected mothers grappling with lifelong dilemmas.
To date, Jonathan’s eldest donor children are 17 years old, likely in high school or heading to university, while the youngest are still toddlers. “It was good that I stopped in 2019. I was, in my opinion, a bit late, but it was hard to stop.”
Have you watched The Man with 1000 Kids? What are your thoughts on this unsettling story?
Cover Image: Netflix
