Social media is appalled after former pro-NFL player Michael Oher claimed the white family that helped get his life on track and was portrayed in the successful 2009 film, The Blind Side, never adopted him and forced him into a conservatorship.
According to TMZ, Oher made the claims in a petition filed in Shelby County, Tennessee, stating Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy saw he was a talented yet “gullible” athlete and “exploited” him for their benefit.
Oher declared he met the Tuohys after his junior year of high school and when he was homeless due to a “broken social system,” which the movie portrayed.
Sean and his wife invited Oher to stay with them over the summer and helped him get back on his feet by buying him new clothes and ensuring he had food in his system.
As time progressed, Oher and the Tuohy family grew tighter.
“The Tuohys did tell Michael they loved him and that they intended to legally adopt him,” Oher wrote. “Michael believed them, was delighted to be a part of a real and stable family, and trusted Mr. and Mrs. Tuohy completely.”
Oher believed he was a part of their family when they presented him with what he presumed were adoption forms. However, in February 2023, Oher learned the documents he signed ordained Sean and Leigh Anne as his conservators.
With the conservatorship, the former Baltimore Ravens tackle had no control over contract negotiations, even during his professional football career.
The worst part, Oher reportedly received nothing for The Blind Side while the Tuohys, including the children, got $225,000 and 2.5% of forthcoming “defined net proceeds.” The movie made over $300 million.
The footballer said no one explained the contract details that required his signature, including the movie deal with Fox.
Along with terminating the conservatorship, Oher is seeking damages and the payments he reportedly never received from the Touhys making deals involving the retired footballer.
Sean, who country singer Tim McGraw portrayed, spoke with the Daily Memphian, denying Oher’s claims about the family exploiting him.
Sean said the adoption came up when the NCAA told him he had to join the Tuohy family to attend Ole Miss officially.
They started the adoption process, but Leigh Ann and Sean’s attorney told them they couldn’t adopt him since he was over 18. The conservatorship, Sean claimed, was their sole best option.
He also said the family made little money from The Blind Side.
“We didn’t make any money off the movie,” Tuohy said. “Well, Michael Lewis [‘The Blind Side’ book author] gave us half of his share. Everybody in the family got an equal share, including Michael. It was about $14,000 each.”
Sean said he’d be happy to end the conservatorship.
Black X not only wants Oher to get every penny he deserves, but some took it further by demanding the Academy Awards rescind actress Sandra Bullock’s Oscar award she won for portraying Leigh Ann.
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 in earnings the movie from him getting any of it and gave the money to their real children? WOOOOOOOW! #michaeloher
— VEEJAY VERNON HUSKEY ENTERTAINMENT,LLC (@BigVanillaFunny) August 14, 2023
If the Michael Oher allegations are true then we have to go AND TAKE THE OSCAR back from Sandra Bullock and give it to Gabourey Sidibe for ‘Precious’ pic.twitter.com/JuiOOr9eAn
— Marjorie Taylor Green Burner ??? (@LLCalrissian) August 14, 2023
Sandra Bullock needs to give back her Oscar the way the NCAA made Reggie Bush return his Heisman
— Jayant Sirdesai (@jaysir12) August 14, 2023
