Meet Jonathan Meijer, the Dutch YouTuber who unlawfully fathered over 500 kids worldwide via sperm donation

Netflix is releasing a 3-part doc series called The Man with 1000 Kids on July 3, where it will delve into the peculiar world of a Dutch musician and YouTuber Jonathan Meijer. In case you’re wondering what the man done to warrant a show about him, Jonathan was also a prolific sperm donor who has allegedly duped hundreds of women globally into bearing his children. While the exact number of his offspring might be a tad debatable, most estimates indicate that the number exceeds 500.

Jonathan’s productive career in sperm donation began in 2007, with Meijer offering his sperm at a Dutch clinic. Given his blond hair, blue eyes and self proclaimed resemblance to the likes of Brad Pitt and Chris Hemsworth, Jonathan’s sperm was a huge hit. But as things took off, he is said to have developed some sort of obsession with the process.

Dutch law restricts sperm donors to a maximum of 25 children, but that little detail didn't seem to faze Meijer. In a span of ten years, he bypassed regulations, racking up a staggering 102 clinic-conceived children before getting caught in 2017.

With blonde-haired, blue-eyed children popping up everywhere, mothers began connecting the dots. Realising Meijer's baby boom far exceeded legal limits, they formed the Donorkind Foundation to stop him. One mother, Eva, spoke of her horror upon discovering the truth: "Knowing he fathered over 100 children, I never would've chosen him." The foundation launched a lawsuit against Meijer, highlighting the potential health and ethical implications of such a vast number of half-siblings unknowingly existing.

Banned as he was in the Netherlands, Meijer wasn't deterred. He went international and is said to have used aliases and international clinics to continue his, well, procreation mission. However, a court in 2023 finally put a stop to Meijer's donations, ordering him to contact clinics and request the destruction of his remaining samples. However, existing parents seeking additional siblings for their children can still access those samples.

Meijer's reasons for his supersized sperm donations remain murky. Theories range from an unhealthy fixation on fatherhood to a Guinness World Record-chasing ambition. He claims a desire for a traditional family life now, but that narrative clashes with his alleged past behaviour.

What does Meijer do now? Believe it or not, he has a YouTube channel where he discusses his experiences, demon-banishing techniques, and his views on traditional wives. He also appears to be globetrotting, with videos filmed in Tanzania and Italy.

As far as the Netflix doc series is concerned, we have it on good authority that Meijer has refused to participate in it. In fact, he has also criticised its sensationalised title and the implication that he's had exactly 1,000 children. He claims a desire to tell his own story and expresses concern about the potential impact on his offspring. Netflix has yet to comment on whether families involved with Meijer were contacted about the documentary.

One thing's for certain: the story of Jonathan Meijer is a complex one, raising questions about ethics, consent, and the ever-evolving landscape of parenthood.