“We found out there was a sperm donor who deceived us” is a line that will be etched in a viewer’s memory. The new true crime documentary The Man with 1000 Kids is a tale of sickening hubris—a man who chose to violate boundaries with endless ramifications on human decency. Yet it is also a tale of the desperation of victims who yearn for nothing more than a child of their own.
No, Netflix’s The Man with 1000 Kids is not the true story of Wilt Chamberlain. This is the eye-opening and jaw-dropping true story of Jonathan Meijer from the Netherlands. (Per the series, he declined to comment on the allegations.) It is said he has fathered over 1,000 children through sperm donations (with speculation it could be as many as 3,000) across dozens of countries and six continents.
To put that into perspective, there are rules and regulations for this sort of thing. In the United States, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommends that a donor’s sperm should lead to no more than 25 births per population of 800,000. The Netherlands has similar guidelines. In contrast, areas like Australia and the United Kingdom limit that number to 10 births.
The Man with 1000 Kids Review and Synopsis
The documentary goes over why this is such an issue. For one, the prevention of accidental consanguinity ensures unintentional incest, associated risks of genetic diseases, and the concept of genetic sexual attraction. Additionally, maintaining genetic diversity is crucial, a concept that stands in stark contrast to Adolf Hitler’s desire for a “master race,” which opposed genetic diversity.
There are also ethical and legal considerations with life-altering ramifications, particularly regarding fertility fraud. Filmmakers paint a shocking picture of the known laws against international donation, as the Dutch YouTuber traveled from country to country, for all intents of purposes, monetizing his seed. Though, some of the interviewees say it was an addiction for him, not about money.
As one victim and fertility fraud advocate, Eve Wiley puts it, the cattle industry is more closely regulated than the business of fertility. Ultimately, a famous donor like Meijer can reach his limit, and the clinics can sell off any extra. However, since the accused went to almost a dozen sperm banks, the problem spread like wildfire across the globe.
Netflix’s The Man with 1000 Kids is a Shocking Docuseries
What you’ll find stomach-turning is the additional twist to the story: an alleged website, “Longing for a Child,” is purported to be the only marketplace for sperm donation. The docuseries accuses the owner and Meijer of using their own specimens and faking various donors. This seems like a money-making scheme between two men to the untrained eye.
However, the filmmakers attempt to mold it into something more sensational by suggesting it is a sick game to see which of their specimens would produce the most offspring. I’m not sure the series proves that point since all that work would have to bear fruit, so to speak, to stay profitable. The operation, almost cartel-like, says a whistleblower, is a full-time operation that has to turn a profit.
The subplot in which Meijer and the unnamed accomplice appear to have run a scheme is interesting. They draw people in with Meijer’s good looks because the other, described as a “bald man with a scar,” also provides sperm but would never be chosen since he is not what mothers envision their children growing up to look like.
Is Netflix’s The Man with 1000 Kids Worth Watching?
The documentary highlights the marketing and vain nature of the fertility business, implicating both the donor and the consumer. Netflix’s The Man with 1000 Kids is worth watching because it shows how big businesses use us as guinea pigs to make a profit even though the docuseries tend to strain credibility about this being not a majority about money.
However, the spread of the “master race” argument is legitimate (especially when you consider another donor’s comments and the Netflix film Our Father). The fraud not only comes from a micro problem from the suspects, but a macro accompanying problem with international clinics and profit-building allowing this to happen. After all, this is a 5-billion-dollar global business that keeps growing.
Yet, The Man with 1000 Kids morphs into a shocking tale of compulsive narcissism. The documented court transcript provides evidence where the filmmakers draw a line to Meijer’s comments, hinting at his desire to be a cult-like figure. With today’s political climate and everything we have seen over the past decade, we cannot discount the haunting image this documentary presents to the viewer.
The Man with 1000 Kids is set to stream on Netflix on July 3rd. Let us know what you think, and comment in the section below!
7/10
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
