Issue with gradient expand

[Amol22809198obyp]

I have correctly expanded the gradient to multiple objects before. However, right now, I'm not being provided with expand option for gradient but expand appearance option. So I tried doing expand appearance first and then expand to multiple objects, but now the end result is something weird with less than specified objects being gradient objects & rest are different random shapes with white colored filled in.

I'd like to know:

1) why I'm not being shown simple expand option in first place

2) Why expand appearance --> expand  of gradient doesn't end with desired result

[Kurt Gold]

Which version of Illustrator are you using?

Also, can you share this Illustrator sample file, so one may have a look at it?

[Monika Gause]

What is the desired result?

Which kind of gradient did you use? Linear, radial, freeform?