Sprouse Twins’ Ancestry Traced to 19th-Century California Incest
Dylan Sprouse disclosed on his podcast that he and twin Cole are 'children of incest' after tracing their family tree to 19th-century California. He noted that both parents’ lineages merged via marriage during the Gold Rush, then diverged before reconnecting in his parents’ generation. The revelation follows his recent fatherhood and Barbara Palvin’s postpartum runway return.
Key points
- Dylan Sprouse used Ancestry.com to trace his lineage and discovered his parents’ families were related through 19th-century marriages in California.
- He stated that both sides of his family were present during the Gold Rush and eventually merged, then split, before reuniting in his parents’ generation.
- Sprouse cited the presence of seven sets of twins across four generations as evidence of shared ancestry, noting his father’s uncles were identical twins.
- He told Cole about the finding, but Cole reportedly hung up the phone, dismissing the news as 'f—ing crazy.'
- The disclosure coincides with Sprouse’s recent fatherhood; he and wife Barbara Palvin welcomed daughter Sylvie in September 2026.
Background
This revelation arrives shortly after Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin welcomed their first child, Sylvie, in September 2026. Palvin returned to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway in October 2026, just six weeks postpartum, with Sprouse cheering from the front row. Earlier this year, Cole Sprouse starred in the crime thriller 'Vintage Violence,' which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
How outlets are covering it
Page Six, Just Jared, and Geo News all report the core claim that Dylan Sprouse described himself and Cole as 'children of incest' based on genealogical research. Page Six and Geo News emphasize the specific detail that the families merged during the 1800s Gold Rush era and later diverged before reconnecting. Just Jared highlights the humorous tone of the podcast discussion, noting Dylan’s co-host Brendan Columbus’s reaction. All outlets agree that Cole Sprouse reacted negatively to the news, with Page Six and Geo News specifying that he hung up the phone. TMZ’s source was inaccessible due to a 403 error, so no perspective could be extracted from that outlet.
Why it matters
The story highlights the intersection of celebrity personal lives with genealogical discoveries, illustrating how modern DNA testing can reveal unexpected historical family connections. It also underscores the public interest in the Sprouse twins’ personal milestones, particularly Dylan’s transition to fatherhood and his wife’s rapid return to high-profile modeling events.
What to watch
No immediate follow-up actions are indicated in the sources. The story is primarily a one-time disclosure from a podcast episode, with no mention of further investigations or public responses from Cole Sprouse or other family members.
- Dylan Sprouse reveals he and twin Cole are ‘children of incest’ Page Six
- Disney stars Dylan and Cole Sprouse are ‘children of incest’ Entertainment Weekly
- Dylan Sprouse Makes Surprising Claim About His & Twin Brother Cole Sprouse's Family History Just Jared
- Dylan Sprouse uncovers shocking family history after becoming a dad Geo News
- Dylan Sprouse Says He and His Twin Cole Are 'Children of Incest' TMZ
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on Page Six