meet the man with 22 children

Father Of 22 Children By 14 Women

A 33-year-old Nashville man who fathered as many as 22 children by 14 women has found himself at the center of one of the city's costliest child support cases - and Orlando Shaw says his youth and love of women are all to blame.

Appearing outside a courtroom recently, Shaw, dressed in a crisp white shirt and matching Capri pants, his long hair neatly arranged in dread locks, opened up to a local TV reporter about his predicament.

'I was young and ambitious and I love women. You can't knock no man for loving women,' Shaw said with a grin.



 Although Shaw told NewsChannel 5 that he is the father of 18 kids, it is believed that his brood numbers 22 offspring, whose mothers took the amorous Southern gentleman to court demanding that he pay tens of thousands of dollars in back child support.

It is estimated that the State of Tennessee spends $7,000 a month to help support all of Shaw's children.

Magistrate Scott Rosenberg said that the 33-year-old dad would have to work three of four full-time jobs to come up with the unpaid child support he owes.

However, Shaw said that his criminal record makes it difficult for him to land a stable, well-paying job. But he seems to have a fool-proof financial plan in place.

‘I play the hell out of the Tennessee lottery,’ he boasted. ‘I don’t block my blessings.'
In a moment of reflection, he then added that perhaps someone will recognize that he had turned his life around and give him a chance.

In his interview to the local station, which has since gone viral, Shaw appeared unapologetic for his youthful indiscretions.

'I love my kids and I can care less about what anyone thinks about it,' said Shaw, adding that his many children will help his family legacy live on.

'I'll be sure we'll be here for years and years to come,' he declared.

Going forward, however, the 33-year-old admitted that he plans to undergo a vasectomy, which he referred to as 'getting fixed,' in order to stop having more kids.

Shaw described himself as a good father, but said that he is currently unable to pay child support.
When challenged by the reporter to name all his kids, who are believed to range in age from infants to some as old as 18, Shaw gave it his best shot, rattling off a string of names - most of them starting with the letter 'O.'

Shaw said all of his sons except for one are named Orlando after himself.

'Hey, I got 'em, I named them, I named these kids, me!' Shaw insisted, beating himself on the chest with evident pride.