A yr after The Blind Facet topic Michael Oher sued Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, the previous NFLer has spoken out about his lawsuit accusing the rich couple of exploiting him for hundreds of thousands.
Oher, whose life serves as inspiration for the Sandra Bullock-led movie, sued the Tuohys in August 2023. He accused the couple of utilizing his identify for monetary achieve, and he additionally claimed they lied by having him signal papers making them his conservators reasonably than his adoptive dad and mom almost twenty years in the past.
The conservatorship has already been terminated on account of the lawsuit.
In a brand new interview with New York Occasions Journal, Oher mentioned the general public’s notion of him has been negatively impacted by The Blind Facet film. The movie, which was launched in 2009 as he was starting his NFL profession with the Baltimore Ravens, led many to query his intelligence, Oher mentioned.
“The NFL individuals had been questioning if I might learn a playbook,” he recalled.
Oher maintains the recognition of the movie — and its portrayal of Oher as quiet and simple-minded — price him the next draft place with extra pay.
“I began seeing stuff that I’m dumb. I’m silly,” Oher mentioned of the general public response to the movie. “Each article about me talked about The Blind Facet, prefer it was a part of my identify.”
Oher fretted this notion of his intelligence would have an effect on his youngsters.
“If my youngsters can’t do one thing in school, will their trainer assume their dad is dumb? Is that why they’re not getting it?”
Actors Quinton Aaron and Sandra Bullock in ‘The Blind Facet.’.
Ralph Nelson/©Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Assortment
In his lawsuit, Oher mentioned the Tuohys earned about US$8 million (C$10.9 million) through the use of his identify and likeness to advertise talking engagements and different occasions. He instructed the court docket Sean and Leigh Anne had been in a position to receive hundreds of thousands by telling the general public they adopted Oher, which isn’t true.
“The primary time I heard ‘I really like you,’ it was Sean and Leigh Anne saying it,” Oher recalled. “When that occurs at 18, you turn into susceptible. You let your guard down and then you definately get every thing stripped from you. It turns right into a damage feeling.”
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Oher continued: “I don’t need to make this about race, however what I came upon was that no person says ‘I really like you’ greater than coaches and white individuals. When Black individuals say it, they imply it.”
The Tuohys have mentioned they by no means meant to undertake Oher and solely meant that he was their adopted son “in a colloquial sense.”
They’ve accused Oher of executing a “shakedown” to extort them for US$15 million (over CAD$20.4 million). Sean and Leigh Anne mentioned Oher earlier threatened to break their public picture if they didn’t ship him cash.
In an announcement to New York Occasions Journal, a spokesperson for Sean and Leigh Anne mentioned Oher’s lawsuit is fraught with “outlandish claims.”
“The concept the Tuohys have ever sought to revenue off Mr. Oher isn’t solely offensive, it’s transparently ridiculous,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The Tuohys, each in actuality and in The Blind Facet, helped Oher receive his driver’s licence, purchase a automobile and organized tutoring to make him eligible to play faculty soccer. Previous to dwelling with the Tuohy household at age 18, Oher lived in foster care, shelters and was at occasions unhoused.
Even amid the lawsuit, Oher known as his time dwelling with the Tuohys “nice” and mentioned he had a “mattress to remain on” whereas additionally “consuming good.”
Whereas dwelling underneath their roof, the Tuohys petitioned for a conservatorship over Oher, which they had been permitted by the courts. Although Tennessee regulation requires a conservatorship be granted due to bodily or psychological disabilities, the Tuohys mentioned Oher had none.
Tennessee Probate Court docket decide Kathleen Gomes eradicated the conservatorship final yr however instructed the court docket she has by no means seen a conservatorship for somebody who isn’t disabled. The Tuohys didn’t object to the dissolution.
Oher was paid US$138,000 (about C$188,000) for The Blind Facet film. In keeping with court docket paperwork filed by the Tuohys, this was his share after the sum was break up evenly 5 methods between Oher, Sean, Leigh Anne and their two youngsters.
The Blind Facet was launched in 2009. The movie would go on to be nominated for finest image on the Oscars and would earn an Acadamy Award trophy for Bullock’s efficiency as Leigh Anne.
Oher mentioned his previous, his character and his legacy had been already “outlined” by The Blind Facet movie, at the same time as he was simply starting his NFL profession in 2009 — a “heartbreak” made worse by the movie’s inaccuracies, he mentioned.
He has maintained he didn’t file a lawsuit in opposition to Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy as a result of he wants the funds.
“I’ve acquired hundreds of thousands of {dollars},” Oher mentioned. “I’m tremendous.”
The lawsuit is ongoing.
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