Retired NFL star Michael Oher has filed a petition in a Tennessee court, alleging that the people claiming to be his adoptive parents fabricated the adoption for their financial gain. Oher’s story inspired the Oscar-winning film, “The Blind Side.”
The court documents assert the Tuohy family obtained conservatorship over Oher after he turned 18, giving them control over his business affairs. Oher claims the family profited from the film while he received nothing.
The petition seeks to terminate the conservatorship, prevent unauthorized use of his identity, and demand financial accountability, equitable distribution of profits, and compensation for damages. Oher’s early belief that conservatorship is equated with adoption is also highlighted.
Read on to learn more.
Michael Oher Reveals His Adoption Was A ‘Lie’
Instagram | Michael Oher
Michael Oher, the retired NFL star known as the inspiration for the movie “The Blind Side,” has filed a petition in a Tennessee court, claiming that important aspects of the story depicted in the movie were fabricated by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, the family that “adopted” he.
In the 14-page petition, via ESPN, Oher asserted that the Tuohy family, portrayed as his adoptive family in the film, actually fabricated the adoption story for their financial gain. Court documents reveal that the family did not officially adopt Oher but moved to become his conservator when he turned 18, giving them authority over his business affairs.
The petition claims the Tuohys profited greatly from the film’s success, receiving millions of dollars in royalties, while Oher received nothing.
The Tuohy’s ‘Enriched Themselves’ With His Spending
Instagram | Michael Oher
“Michael’s adoption lie is one in which Joint Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves at the expense of their Ward, the undersigned Michael Oher,” the petition asserts.
“Michael Oher discovered this lie to his dismay and shame in February 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship he had agreed to on the basis of doing so would have made him a member of the Tuohy family given he had no kinship to the Tuohys. “
The legal filing seeks to end the conservation, prevent unauthorized use of Oher’s identity, demand an accurate financial accounting of the income made by the Tuohys using Oher’s name, distribute equitable profits and seek compensation for damages.
“Since at least August 2004, the Conservators have allowed Michael, in particular, and the public, in general, to believe that the Conservators adopted Michael and have used that untruth to gain financial advantage for themselves and the foundations they own or that they operate,” the petition asserted, para ESPN.
“All money thus made shall in all conscience and equity be disposed of and paid to the said ward, Michael Oher.”
Michael Oher Forced to ‘Give’ His Story
Instagram | Michael Oher
Oher signed conservatorship papers during his senior year of high school, guided by the Tuohy family’s belief that it was akin to adoption. His 2011 memoir, “I Beat the Odds,” highlights these perspectives, explaining how they equate the two. “They explained to me that it means almost the same as ‘adoptive parents’, but the law is just written in a way that takes my age into account,” she revealed.
Legally, however, adoption would give the Oher family membership and financial control. Instead, under conservatorship, he gives up his financial power even as an adult with no known physical or psychological disability.
The petition asserts that after the release of “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game” in 2006, the Tuohys began film negotiations. The successful film brought them a large income, while Oher’s separate contract in 2007 appears to have “awarded” the rights to his story without any compensation. The filing noted Oher’s lack of memory and understanding of the contract’s implications.
The Tuohys Deny Receiving Royalties From Films
Instagram | Michael Oher
In the past, the Tuohys have denied making much money from the film, saying they received a flat fee for the story and did not make any of the film’s profits. And what they gained, they added, was shared with Oher. “We split it five ways,” the Tuohys said in their 2010 book, “In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving.”
Oher’s legal filings show he never received any compensation from the film, though he has suspicions others benefited. His attorney, J. Gerard Stranch IV, explained that Oher’s questions had been met with evasive answers.
Since the film coincided with his busy NFL career from 2009 onwards, Oher only looked into the deal closely after retiring in 2016. He hired a lawyer who helped uncover the film deal and the truth about its legal status with the Tuohys. In February, conservatorship documents revealed the reality that the Tuohys did not adopt her.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
