THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — In a turn of events that has gripped both local and international audiences, Jonathan Meijer, a 43-year-old Dutchman who claims to have fathered 550 children through sperm donations, is now taking legal action against Netflix. Meijer asserts that the popular streaming service’s documentary, “The Man With 1,000 Kids“, is sensationalist and contains inaccuracies that have slandered him and the families involved.
Appearing on a late-night chat show on Tuesday, Meijer publicly announced his lawsuit against Netflix. “The number of children the documentary said I could have fathered — up to 3,000 — is incorrect,” Meijer clarified. “Five hundred and fifty, that’s the number I know for sure. Anything above that is just speculation.”
Meijer described the documentary, which aired without his participation, as heretical and unjust. “That’s why I have started a case to fight against these lies,” he stated. Labeling the documentary as “sensationalist,” Meijer emphasized the need for accurate representation, especially given the sensitive nature of the topic.
Last year, Meijer became a subject of significant media attention when a court mandated him to cease his sperm donations. Since commencing his donations in 2007, he had reportedly facilitated the births of between 550 and 600 children. Dutch clinical guidelines stipulate that a sperm donor should father no more than 25 children across 12 families, a limit that Meijer far exceeded.
The court criticized Meijer for providing false information to families regarding his past donations, leading to fears of negative psychosocial impacts on the children. Specifically, the widespread kinship network he created raised concerns over potential identity issues and the inadvertent risk of accidental incest among the half-siblings.
Addressing these concerns, Meijer said he had ceased his sperm donations in 2019, except for aiding families who sought additional children with his genetic contribution. His primary objective with the lawsuit is to have the documentary removed to protect the children who are increasingly becoming recognizable in public spaces.
“I want the documentary taken down for the sake of the children who are being recognized in the street,” Meijer added.
As this high-stakes legal battle unfolds, it underscores broader ethical and regulatory questions surrounding sperm donation practices and the responsibilities of media outlets in their portrayal of such sensitive topics. The world will certainly be watching as Meijer’s case against Netflix progresses.
