‘Blind Side’ Subject Michael Oher Sues Adoptive Family, Says They Made Millions Off Him
The Blind Side is a 2009 award winning movie that earned Sandra Bullock her first Oscar for her emotional portrayal of a Suburban mom and her family who adopt a struggling teen, Michael Oher, only for him to become an NFL star.
What seems like a touching movies, however, may all be a sham, given a recent lawsuit filed by the real Michael Oher.
Oher claim Sean and Anne Tuohy lied about adopting him in order to trick him into a conservatorship at the age of 18 that’s allowed them to make millions off him, while leaving him with little of the profits.
Oher says that, at the time, he was led to believe there was no significant difference between an adoption and conservatorship, and that the latter was the only option since he was 18.
“Michael trusted the Tuohys and signed where they told him to sign,” he said in the filing, court documents obtained by PEOPLE reveal. “What he signed, however, and unknown to Michael until after February 2023, were not adoption papers, or the equivalent of adoption papers.”
Oher is arguing that the Tuohys negotiated a deal for their biological children to benefit from The Blind Side film, inspired by his life. Their son and daughter each got $225,000 plus 2.5% of the film’s revenue. However, Oher said he was left out and not offered the same deal.
This contrasts what the Tuohy family has said. In their 2010 book In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Powerful of Cheerful Giving, they claimed to have split the profits five ways – between Anne, Sean, their two biological kids, and Oher.
Oher says that the Tuohy have earned millions off of his story and by way of the conservatorship throughout the years, without giving him a fair share of the profits.
The new lawsuit has caused a buzz of controversy, especially since the movie was received as inspirational at the time. There have even been Internet petitions trying to get Sandra Bullock’s Oscar revoked.
Oher released a statement on August 15 to PEOPLE addressing the case, saying he’s as disheartened as the public is.
"I am disheartened by the revelation shared in the lawsuit today," he said in the statement.
"This is a difficult situation for my family and me. I want to ask everyone to please respect our privacy at this time,” Oher went on. “For now, I will let the lawsuit speak for itself and will offer no further comment."
The case remains ongoing.
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