Fourteen years ago, the movie world was captivated by “The Blind Side,” a heartwarming story that brought together an all-star cast including Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, and Lilly Collins. Billed as based on an “extraordinary true story,” the film introduced viewers to Michael Oher, a young man who overcame adversity with the unwavering support of a wealthy family that propelled him to become an NFL offensive lineman.
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However, in August 2023, Michael Oher himself revealed that a significant part of the story depicted in the film was fabricated. In his recent legal filings, Oher claims that the Tuohy family, including characters Leigh Anne (portrayed by Sandra Bullock) and Sean (played by Tim McGraw), never officially adopted him.
Instead, Oher claims he was placed under conservatorship, a condition that remains to this day. In his lawsuit seeking to end receivership altogether, the retired football player claims he never received any royalties for the film and was duped into signing receivership documents.
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Oher clarified that at the time the Tuohy family intended to adopt him, he was informed that due to his age, placement in receivership would serve a purpose similar to adoption proceedings. Oher was 17 when he added his signature to the paper in 2004.
According to reports, the conservatorship ordered that Oher be “prohibited from entering into any contracts or obligations without the express consent of his guardian.” Fast forward two decades and the conservancy is still operating today.
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The petition clearly shows Ohr’s strong aversion to the Tuohy family. It says: “While other parents of Michael’s peers saw him as a kind young man in need, conservators Sean Tuohy and Leigh Anne Tuohy saw something else: a receptive young individual whose athletic talents could be exploited for personal gain.”
The legal filing further claims that Leigh Anne, Sean, and their biological children, SJ and Collins, all reaped the benefits of Oher’s life story, while he did not. In the present, Leigh Anne and Sean’s son, SJ, who played a prominent role in the film, shared their view.
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In an interview with Barstool Sports, SJ expressed his understanding of Oher’s displeasure. However, he clarified that he is far from the “multimillionaire” character that Oher portrays him as in the legal papers.
“If I had $2 million in my bank account, I’d brag about it in my email signature as ‘Signed, SJ Tuohy, Multi-Millionaire,'” SJ quipped, acknowledging that his friends were joking with him about the situation.
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Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, weighed in on the matter, highlighting the apparent disparity between the profits generated by the film and Oher’s lack of compensation. Portnoy commented, “It’s obvious that someone is profiting heavily from that movie and not getting a share of it. If I were in a similar situation where a movie about me supposedly made $300 million at the box office and I got nothing, I can understand how disheartening that would be .”
As the court proceedings continue, the Tuohy family has yet to provide an official response to the lawsuit. The nature of their current relationship, if any, remains shrouded in uncertainty. The story that began with the heart-warming play The Blind Side took an unexpected turn, shedding light on the complexities that can arise when a film’s depiction of a true story intersects with the reality of the individuals involved.