Sanda Bullock initially rejected 'The Blind Side' movie over Michael Oher fears

15 August 2023 , 17:58

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Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy in "The Blind Side" (Image: Alcon Film Fund)

' The Blind Side ' star Sandra Bullock has come under the spotlight after the film's main plot was alleged to be based on a lie. Bullock originally didn't want to take on the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy in the film for fear that it would destroy the film subject, Michael Oher 's life.

Bullock portrayed Leigh Anne Tuohy in the film, which showed Oher, a young African-American male from a background of poverty, taken in and adopted by the white and wealthy Tuohy family. She won an Oscar in the Best Actress category for her portrayal of Leigh Anne, which marked her first Academy Award win.

In 2010, the NY Times interviewed Bullock, who was shocked at the number of viewers and peers congratulating her for her performance in the role. But Bullock recalled the first week of shooting the movie as "the worst I ever had."

By the end of filming, Bullock became a believer in her work. Ironically, she said, "I thought I was going to be responsible for destroying this man's two-year journey to tell this story," after describing how she had rejected the role for eight months before signing on. Academy Award winner Julia Roberts was originally offered Bullock's role but turned it down.

Bullock's involvement has received criticism on social media, with the 59-year-old actress benefitting financially from the film, while Oher claims he was left with nothing. The Touhy family and their birth children allegedly made $225,000 (£177.4m), plus 2.5 per cent of the film's "defined net proceeds", according to the legal filing. The New York Times also reported that Bullock earned $5 million (£3.93m) for her role in "The Blind Side."

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Bullock spoke after the film's release about her relationship with the Tuohys, and complimented wife Leigh Anne, whom she was portraying. "You come on set, it's like people don't want you to leave. It's like this beacon of light arrives at set, all the crew and all of us hang around Leigh Anne," she said.

Upon accepting her Academy Award for Best Actress, she also said: "To the family that allowed me to play them, the Tuohy family, I know they're in here and you'll probably hear them in a minute, maybe not, thank you for giving me the opportunity."

Quinton Aaron, actress Sandra Bullock and director-screenwriter John Lee Hancock attend "The Blind Side" premiere

Fans on social media have given contrasting opinions to the news since it surfaced. Some argued that she was an undeserving recipient of her Sscar, while others believed she was an innocent party without involvement in the controversy.

"They need to take away Sandra Bullock's Oscar like they took Reggie Bush's Heisman for this," one user said.

"So Sandra Bullock should have to give back her Oscar, right? And man, do we need to start checking these good feeling stories? The parents blocked $300 million in earnings the movie [made] from him getting any of it and gave the money to their real children. Wow," wrote another.

"Can we leave Sandra Bullock alone for a second? She was an actress who accepted a job for a movie that was based on a 'true story.' It's not her fault none of it was true. Oher himself just found out he wasn't officially adopted this year. " expressed another user.

Oher said that the family did not adopt him and instead forced him to sign conservator paperwork allowing the Tuohy family to have a legal permission for Oher's finances. A 14-page document acquired by ESPN said 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.

Rory Robinson