NFL star from Sandra Bullock film accuses family of 'lying' for millions

14 August 2023 , 19:27

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Michael Oher pcitured with Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy during his time at Ole Miss

Former NFL tackle and inspiration behind the blockbuster film 'The Blind Side', Michael Oher, has claimed that the film's main plot was a lie. Oher played for the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans and won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013.

The hit movie focused on Oher as its primary subject, being depicted as a young African-American male from an impoverished background until ultimately being adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, a wealthy white family. Oher has alleged the couple tricked him into signing paperwork that would make the Tuohy family his conservators, giving them legal permission to make and secure business deals using his name.

According to ESPN, a 14-page petition filed in Shelby County, Tennessee, alleged that the Tuohy family never actually adopted Oher. Instead, they made him sign a different document less than three months after the retired NFL star turned 18 in 2004.

The documenter further detailed that the Tuohys used their conservator power to strike deals that would earn their family more than $300 million (£236.5m) in royalties from the movie. The film was released in 2009 and nominated at the Academy Awards for best picture with star Sandra Bullock nominated for Best Actress.

'The Blind Side' was distributed by Warner Brothers Pictures and made $309.2 million (£242.6m) at the box office. The film was created on a budget of $29 million (£22.8m). However, the details the film was based on are now being disputed by Oher himself with the petition filed in the case.

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"The lie of Michael's adoption is one upon which Co-Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves at the expense of their Ward, the undersigned Michael Oher," the legal filing says. "Michael Oher discovered this lie to his chagrin and embarrassment in February of 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the basis that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy family provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys."

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"Since at least August of 2004, Conservators have allowed Michael, specifically, and the public, generally, to believe that Conservators adopted Michael and have used that untruth to gain financial advantages for themselves and the foundations which they own or exercise control," the petition says. "All monies made in the said manner should in all conscience and equity be disgorged and paid to the said ward, Michael Oher."

The legal distinctions describe the technicalities of being adopted, as Oher could have handled his finances if he had been legally adopted. In a conservatorship, Oher would have surrendered the ability to control his own money despite being a legal adult.

Oher played in the Super Bowl twice during his NFL career (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The petition further alleges that the Tuohy family began negotiating a movie deal about adopting Oher after the release of their book in 2006, which first told their story. The Touhy family and their birth children allegedly made $225,000 (£177.4m), plus 2.5% of the film's "defined net proceeds", according to the legal filing.

A separate contract in 2007 signed by Oher allegedly had him sign the rights to his story away without any payments. Oher has said he has no recollection of signing any contacts, and even if he did, he was not told the implications of signing such documents.

Rory Robinson