Currently the top show on the streaming platform is Netflix’s latest three-part docuseries, The Man With 1000 Kids. As you watch, you may find yourself wondering about the real-life outcomes of the families involved, such as the whereabouts of Jonathan Jacob Meijer.
Jonathan Jacob Meijer is a Dutch musician and YouTuber who reportedly has over 500 biological children around the world as a result of sperm donation. Meijer revealed in a February 2024 YouTube video that he was motivated to become a sperm donor after learning of a classmate’s infertility.
Despite speculations surrounding the docuseries being based on a true story, Jonathan Jacob Meijer dismissed these claims as “misleading”in a conversation with BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.
In addition, he stated that his actions were intentionally portrayed in a negative manner by the creators of The Man with 1000 Kids.
Who is Jonathan Jacob Meijer?
Jonathan Jacob Meijer, a 42-year-old Dutch YouTuber and musician, has a diverse background that includes working as a civics teacher, mailman, and cryptocurrency consultant. He comes from a large family with seven siblings. On his YouTube channel, which currently has 6.17k subscribers, Meijer shares his experiences traveling, his motivation for becoming a sperm donor, his reflections, and his music.
Patricia, a friend featured in The Man With 1000 Kids, revealed that the serial sperm donor faced challenges in finding his voice and identity amidst his extensive family. He also struggled with job stability and frequently altered his appearance.
When and why did Jonathan Meijer start donating sperm?
In 2007, Meijer became involved in the fertility industry by donating sperm. In a video from February 2024, he shared that the inspiration for this decision came while he was pursuing a teaching degree. One of his classmates mentioned their struggle with infertility, prompting Meijer to donate his samples and assist couples in achieving the happiness of parenthood.
Meijer’s donations were even more beneficial for many due to the absence of any family history of chronic or genetic diseases, diabetes, and cancer.
According to The Mirror, the sperm donor had signed up with 11 sperm clinics globally, including the Danish sperm bank Cryos. Additionally, he joined Facebook groups for hopeful parents struggling with conception, in order to connect with women who were interested in using his sperm samples.
However, the situation changed when it came to light that Meijer had violated the laws of the country by fathering far more than the permitted limit of 25 children. According to the publication, Meijer had deceived everyone over the years. He had promised each clinic that he would only donate there and had also misled each potential mother by claiming to have only about 10 children.
The true story of the rulings against Jonathan Meijer
Among the parents who had children through Meijer’s sample, single mother Vanessa van Ewijk stands out. In 2015, she became a mother with the help of Meijer’s sperm, after connecting with him on a website and receiving the semen through independent donors.
In 2017, when she tried to get pregnant again, she connected with Jonathan. During this time, she also reached out to another single mother on Facebook and discovered that Meijer’s sperm donation had been banned due to an enforcement in 2017.
According to an article in the New York Times, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport conducted an inquiry in 2017 which revealed that Jonathan Meijers had fathered at least 102 children through various fertility clinics across the country.
The reported figure did not take into account his personal contributions made through online platforms. The Dutch Donor Child Foundation was her chosen platform to bring attention to this case of deceit, and it was discovered that a significant number of mothers shared similar concerns. Their testimonies revealed that Meijer had fathered 80 children in the Netherlands, although the total number worldwide may be higher.
Despite the prohibition, Meijer reportedly made anonymous donations under various aliases. He had children in numerous countries including Australia, Italy, Serbia, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, Romania, Denmark, Sweden, Mexico, and the USA.
In 2023, the Court of The Hague issued a new ban prohibiting Meijer from supplying sperm. The court also ordered Dutch clinics and sperm banks to destroy all of Meijer’s specimens. Additionally, the court ruled that Meijer would be fined 100,000 Euros every time he violated the ban, as reported and confirmed by Reuters.
The Dutch Donor Kind Foundation backed the latter’s argument that Meijer was deceiving the recipients with inaccurate information about the number of his children. Ties van der Meer, the CEO, stated according to The Mirror, “Meijer’s actions are outrageous! The court has determined that he has 550 children. I fear he will try to surpass this record by claiming he already has 1,000 children.”
4. How many children does sperm donor Jonathan Jacob Meijer have?
It is often said that there is no exact answer to the question, and it remains a million-dollar question.
The 2023 verdict estimated the number to be around 550, but according to sources like van der Meer and The Man With 1000 Kids, it could be higher than 1,000.
When he sent an email to The New York Times in 2021, the serial sperm donor rejected all of them, declaring, “I have around 250 children.”
He stated, “The idea of 1,000 assumptions is absurd. I am disheartened by the fixation on numbers. I chose to become a donor out of a desire to assist parents in fulfilling their dream, not for statistics. I cannot comprehend how someone could solely prioritize numbers and view my donor children as mere digits.”
In a separate email, the writer expressed, “I understand that people may be quick to judge me or assume that I donate for selfish reasons. However, I am humble and do not hold myself in high regard. My motivation as a donor stems from the desire to make a significant impact with just a small contribution, the gratitude of the recipients, and the heartwarming moments I share with the children and recipients.”
5. Reason for Jonathan Meijer’s sperm donation ban
As a result of Meijer’s frequent sperm donations, a significant number of children have been born worldwide and in the Netherlands, resulting in each child having hundreds of half-siblings. In a country as compact as the Netherlands, this situation could potentially result in unintentional incest and inbreeding.
Natalie, one of the mothers featured in the docuseries, explained that children who are not raised together are often drawn to each other due to familiarities in their facial features. This attraction can sometimes lead to romantic love, a phenomenon referred to as the “Luke and Leia complex,”named after the famous siblings in the Star Wars franchise.
There are variations in the regulations of different countries regarding the frequency and maximum number of donations a person can make and the number of children they can have through donation. The lack of universal laws and stringent guidelines in the fertility industry leaves this aspect open to interpretation.
Where is Jonathan Meijer now?
Although Meijer does not have a permanent address, his YouTube channel reveals that he frequently travels around the world to share videos about his daily life, his response to the Netflix documentary, and his insights on his journey as a sperm donor. However, his recent videos suggest that Meijer is currently residing in Zanzibar.
7. About The Man with 1000 Kids
The docuseries, The Man with 1000 Kids, spans three episodes and tackles the immense challenge of uncovering the destruction caused by Jonathan Meijer in various countries and continents. Along with his donations to 11 sperm banks in the Netherlands, Meijer also distributed his sperm worldwide through private means.
The three-part docuseries, which was released on Netflix on 3 July 2024, was directed by Josh Allott and produced by Kathryn Taylor. It explores the stories of families who used Meijer’s sperm for conception without knowing that he had fathered over 500 children. Despite facing lawsuits and being banned by a Dutch court from donating sperm to banks, Meijer persisted with his actions.
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