Former NFL star Michael Oher, known for being the inspiration behind “The Blind Side,” has filed a court petition claiming that the couple who took him in as a teenager misled him into thinking they were adopting him. Instead, they placed him under a conservatorship. The petition, submitted to Shelby County Court in Tennessee, argues that Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have benefited financially from Oher’s adoption lie at his expense.
The Tuohy family’s story and their relationship with Oher became the basis for the award-winning film “The Blind Side,” featuring Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy. The movie, based on Michael Lewis’ book of the same name, follows Oher’s journey from being a homeless child to his successful college football career and eventual NFL stardom.
According to the petition, the Tuohys negotiated a deal with 20th Century Fox related to the film rights. Oher, however, received no payment for the use of his name, likeness, and life story, while the Tuohy family received a significant contract price and a share of the film’s profits. The petition claims that the film has grossed over $300 million and that a $200,000 donation was made to Leigh Anne Tuohy’s foundation.
Oher asserts that he did not make any money from the film, as it was released after he had finished college and it would not have affected his NCAA eligibility. Furthermore, he claims that he does not remember signing any agreement related to the film rights and was never given an explanation about it.
The petition accuses the Tuohys of breaching their fiduciary duty as conservators, which the filing describes as “gross and appalling” and deserving of sanctions from the court.
Additionally, Oher’s petition requests the termination of the conservatorship and seeks an injunction to prevent the Tuohys from using his name and likeness.
In response to the allegations, Sean Tuohy expressed his devastation and denied making any money from the film. He stated that the family would continue to love Oher regardless of the situation.
The ongoing controversy surrounding Oher and the Tuohy family suggests that tensions have been building over time. Sean Tuohy Jr. believes that the issues between Oher and his family stemmed from a request for money made by Oher in 2021.
It remains unclear why the Tuohys chose a conservatorship instead of adoption, but Sean Tuohy Jr. assumes it was due to Oher’s age at the time.
The Tuohys’ former representatives at Creative Artists Agency have stated that they have had no involvement with the family since 2007.
Overall, this legal dispute between Michael Oher and the Tuohy family raises questions about their relationship and the financial aspects surrounding Oher’s adoption and the film based on his life. The court will now have to decide the validity of Oher’s claims and the future of the conservatorship.
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.
