Social media influencers’ feeds are often full of giveaways and sponsorships. One pair of influencers sparked plenty of discussion for a recent post– a “Donor Sperm Giveaway.” In it, they offered followers a chance to win a vial of donor sperm (with free shipping, of course).
The influencers, Sam Kwiatkowski and Allie Conway, are a married couple and share over 200,000 followers on their Instagram account, @allieandsam. On their shared YouTube channel, they have an additional 24,000 subscribers.
On social media, they typically share their daily life with their dogs, travels, and experiences as a married LGBTQ+ couple. After posting their new giveaway, they attracted attention across platforms, reaching past their usual audience.
Donor Sperm Giveaway — The First of Its Kind?
In their caption, they wrote, “We are so, so excited to be partnering with @fairfaxcryobank to (hopefully!) help one of you grow your family!” They explained how people could enter: follow them and Fairfax Cryobank on Instagram, like the giveaway post, and tag as many friends in separate comments on the post.
The winner would receive credit for one vial of donor sperm of the winner’s choosing from Fairfax Cryobank, along with free shipping.
The Internet Reacts
The giveaway involving human sperm had the internet experiencing mixed emotions. Some questioned if giving away human sperm was morally-right, claiming that it was similar to giving away a child. Others applauded the couple for offering others the chance to start a family. Supporters cited how pricey IVF and treating infertility issues could get.
On Twitter, one account responded to Fairfax Cryobank’s tweet promoting the giveaway. They wrote that it was “dehumanizing” to have someone’s future child being a part of a “literal giveaway”
According to Fairfax Cryobank’s website, fees for a vial of donor sperm are typically between $650 and $1050. Fees are based on a variety of factors, including preparation type, expanded panel testing, and availability. Shipping costs can cost anywhere from $95 for local addresses to $785 for international addresses. The free vial and waived shipping costs can save the winner nearly $2,000.
Both parties didn’t offer further comment on the giveaway’s terms and conditions, other than limiting entries to residents of the US and Canada.
The giveaway is now closed and the couple announced that the winner will be contacted.