‘Blind Side’ inspiration Michael Oher says Tuohy family lied about adopting him
Ex-NFL star Michael Oher has claimed in a lawsuit that the adoption story behind The Blind Side movie was a lie and that the Tuohy family made millions from his name.
A petition filed in probate court in Shelby County, Tennessee, alleges that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, a white couple who brought 18-year-old Oher into their home as a high school student never actually adopted him.
Instead, lawyers for the athlete state that three months after Oher turned 18 in 2004 they got him to sign a document which made them his conservators and which allowed them to make business deals in his name.
Court papers state that the couple used their position as conservators to agree to a deal that saw them and their two biological children paid for the Oscar-winning movie, which starred Sandra Bullock and made more than $300m.
Oher claims in the petition that he made nothing for the inspirational story “that would not have existed without him” and that the family have continued to call him their adopted son to promote their foundation and Ms Tuohey’s career as an author and motivational speaker, reported ESPN.
“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,” court documents state.
“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, in fact provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys.”
Oher has asked the court to end the conservatorship and to ban them from using his name and likeness. He also wants a full accounting of the money the family made using his name and to be paid a fair share of the profits. He is also seeking an unspecified amount of punitive and compensatory damages.
“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 which they exercise control,” the petition added.
“All monies made in said manner should in all conscience and equity be disgorged and paid over to the said ward, Michael Oher.”
