Ex-NFLer Michael Oher of ‘The Blind Side’ makes statement on his bombshell lawsuit against Tuohy family

It was all a lie, based on Michael Oher.

The ex-NFLer and topic of the hit flick “The Blind Facet” claims Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy by no means formally adopted him. 

As a substitute, they tricked him into signing over the authorized authority to make use of his title in enterprise offers after he turned 18, according to court papers obtained by ESPN.

In a 14-page petition filed in Shelby County, Tenn., probate court docket Monday, Oher, 37, alleged the Tuohys used their conservatorship to make thousands and thousands of {dollars} in royalties from the 2009 Oscar-nominated film that starred Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw.

“The lie of Michael’s adoption is one upon which Co-Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves on the expense of their Ward [Oher],” the authorized submitting stated.

“Michael Oher found this misinform his chagrin and embarrassment in February of 2023, when he discovered that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the idea that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy household, in reality offered him no familial relationship with the Tuohys.”

If Oher had been legally adopted, he would have retained the facility to deal with his personal funds as a member of the household. As a substitute, the conservatorship gave that authority to the Tuohys.

The Tuohy household didn’t responded to requests for remark from The Put up on Monday.

However Oher launched a press release after information of his court docket submitting turned public, saying, “I’m disheartened by the revelation shared within the lawsuit right this moment.

“This can be a tough scenario for my household and me. I need to ask everybody to please respect our privateness presently. For now, I’ll let the lawsuit converse for itself and can provide no additional remark.”

“The Blind Facet” — primarily based on the titular e-book written by Michael Lewis — paints the image of Oher as an impoverished youth who, with the assistance of the Tuohy household, labored his method to the NFL.

Bullock received a number of awards for her portrayal of the Tuohy matriarch, whereas the film grossed greater than $300 million.

Oher – a 2009 first-round pick out of Ole Miss who performed for the Ravens, Titans and Panthers throughout his eight-year NFL profession – now needs to finish the Tuohy’s conservatorship and safe an injunction barring them from utilizing his title and likeness.

He additionally needs an accounting of the cash they’ve already earned off his title, a justifiable share of the income and punitive damages.

“Since at the least August of 2004, Conservators have allowed Michael, particularly, and the general public, usually, to consider that Conservators adopted Michael and have used that untruth to realize monetary benefits for themselves and the foundations which they personal or which they train management,” the petition says.

“All monies made in stated method ought to in all conscience and fairness be disgorged and paid over to the stated ward, Michael Oher.”

The Tuohys tricked Oher into signing the doc that named them his conservators simply three months after the offensive lineman turned 18 again in 2004, the petition stated.

The household then allegedly used their newfound authorized energy to hammer out a deal that paid them and their two beginning kids thousands and thousands of {dollars} in royalties – whereas giving nothing to the person who impressed the story.

Again when Oher signed the papers, the Tuohys made it appear as if there was no actual distinction between adoption and conservatorship, Oher stated in his 2011 best-selling memoir, “I Beat the Odds.”

“They defined to me that it means just about the very same factor as ‘adoptive dad and mom,’ however that the legal guidelines have been simply written in a approach that took my age under consideration,” Oher wrote.

However that’s not true.

The conservatorship gave the Tuohys the facility to deal with Oher’s funds regardless that he had no psychological disabilities.

The blockbuster 2009 flick that adopted made tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} within the theaters and tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} extra in house video gross sales, ESPN stated. And it earned two Oscar nominations.

The Tuohys profited handsomely, the authorized submitting stated. The couple and their two beginning kids made $225,000 every, plus 2.5% of the film’s web proceeds.

The submitting additionally claimed the Tuohys had Oher signal one other contract in 2007 that successfully gave the rights to his story to twenty^th Century Fox Studios with no promise of recompense.

Oher stated he doesn’t keep in mind signing that contract, based on ESPN. And if he did, nobody allegedly defined to him what it meant.

The Tuohys have lengthy stated they didn’t make a lot from the film. They’ve stated the income they did reap, they shared pretty with the retired lineman.

“We divided it 5 methods,” the household wrote in a 2010 e-book, based on the sports activities community.

Oher’s petition says he obtained nothing. However he didn’t examine the deal till after he retired from the NFL in 2016, stated Stranch, his lawyer.  

“Mike didn’t develop up with a steady household life,” Stranch informed ESPN. “When the Tuohy household informed Mike they beloved him and wished to undertake him, it stuffed a void that had been with him his total life. Discovering that he wasn’t truly adopted devastated Mike and wounded him deeply.”

Oher was already a critic of the movie, claiming it was a burden to his soccer profession and portrayed him as kind of illiterate.

“To have one thing about you [saying] that you would be able to’t learn or write – that’s not good,” Oher informed Mississippi Public Radio on Monday. “To have that occur to you, I wouldn’t want it on anyone. Particularly in case you’re making an attempt to achieve the degrees of my career.”

And though he got here from a hardscrabble upbringing, Oher stated he was an all-American athlete earlier than he moved in with the Tuohys — the household didn’t educate him to play, because the film suggests.

He additionally had a robust work ethic lengthy earlier than he met them, he stated.  

“My perspective, preparation and energy – daily I jumped up out of the mattress when the alarm clock went off,” Oher stated. “I made certain I didn’t lay round, I hopped up. and I had a way of urgency about me. I walked round like I used to be working.”

Nonetheless, Oher informed public radio that he was grateful for the Tuohys.

“I’m grateful they let me keep my senior 12 months there,” Oher stated. “However it’s a must to perceive what it took for me to get to that time.”