Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy have vigorously denied Michael Oher’s claims that they profited off of him and dismiss them as “outlandish,” “hurtful and absurd.” They believe these claims are part of a “shakedown” by Oher, the former NFL player whose story inspired the movie “The Blind Side.” The Tuohy family’s attorneys held a news conference to address Oher’s allegations and stated that he did not sign away his rights to the movie. They revealed that each member of the Tuohy family, including Oher, received around $100,000 in profits from the film.
Contrary to previous statements made by Sean Tuohy, who initially claimed they did not make any money from the movie, he later clarified that Michael Lewis, the author of the book that inspired the film, gave them half of his share. The family divided the earnings equally among themselves, resulting in each member receiving approximately $14,000.
In response to Oher’s accusations, the Tuohy family’s attorney, Martin Singer, issued a statement claiming that they are heartbroken and accused Oher of attempting to extort $15 million from them by threatening to spread negative stories about them. Singer stated that the Tuohys fulfilled their promise of sharing profits from the movie, as negotiated by agents, which included a small advance and a percentage of the net profits.
The Tuohys expressed their hope for reconciliation with Oher despite his recent actions. However, they also pledged to defend their reputations and resist this offensive lawsuit.
Oher filed a petition to terminate the conservatorship initiated by the Tuohys in 2004, months after turning 18. His petition states that he consented to the conservatorship believing it would make him a part of the Tuohy family, but it ultimately provided no familial relationship. The attorneys confirmed that the family intends to terminate the conservatorship.
The statement also clarified the legal distinctions between a conservatorship and adoption. Oher, who lived with the Tuohys during his senior year of high school and attended their alma mater, demanded a thorough explanation of his assets, claiming he did not receive his fair share of the movie’s earnings. He further requested sanctions and compensatory damages against the Tuohys.
The Tuohy family vehemently denied Oher’s accusations, stating that the idea of trying to profit off of him is offensive and absurd. They emphasized their wealth, worth “hundreds of millions of dollars,” and dismissed the notion of withholding a minimal amount of money. Singer pointed out the existence of profit participation checks and studio accounting statements as evidence of their transparency.
The statement also addressed Oher’s refusal to cash the profit checks, leading the Tuohys to deposit the funds into a trust account for his son. They asserted that they did not receive any money as his conservators and established the conservatorship solely to support his health insurance, obtaining a driver’s license, and college admissions.
Sean Tuohy explained that the conservatorship in question had no connection to the movie but was established to facilitate Oher’s recruitment to Ole Miss, his and Tuohy’s alma mater. They sought legal advice, which informed them that adoption was not possible for someone over 18, prompting them to pursue a conservatorship as a legitimate alternative. The Tuohys made sure Oher’s biological mother participated in the court proceedings to ensure legality.
Singer dismissed Oher’s claims as repetitive and opportunistic, asserting that previous attorneys representing him abandoned their positions once they discovered the truth. He described Oher’s actions as a cynical attempt to gain attention during his current book tour.
Oher, a former NFL player, was drafted in 2009 and enjoyed a successful career, including a Super Bowl win with the Baltimore Ravens. He played for several teams before retiring in 2017.
In conclusion, the Tuohy family maintains their innocence, adamantly denying Oher’s allegations and expressing their willingness to end the conservatorship. They stand firm in their commitment to defend their reputations and overcome this offensive lawsuit.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
