The Blind Side or The Blind Lie? The Tuohy Family Responds to Michael Oher’s Allegations

 

  The Tuohy family, who became famous for their role in the inspirational story of former NFL player Michael Oher, are now facing a legal battle with him over the truth behind their relationship. Oher, whose life was portrayed in the 2009 movie The Blind Side, has filed a petition in a Tennessee court accusing the Tuohys of deceiving him into making them his conservators when he was 18 years old, and profiting from his story without his consent. The Tuohys, however, have denied Oher’s claims and called them “outlandish”, “hurtful and absurd” and part of a “shakedown” attempt by Oher.

What is The Blind Side?

     The Blind Side is a book by Michael Lewis that was published in 2006. It tells the story of how Oher, a homeless and illiterate teenager from a broken family, was taken in by the Tuohys, a wealthy white family from Memphis, Tennessee. The Tuohys provided Oher with a stable home, education, and support to pursue his dream of playing football. Oher eventually became a star offensive lineman at the University of Mississippi and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in 2013 and played for two more teams before retiring in 2016 due to concussion issues.

    The book was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2009, starring Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy, Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy, and Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher. The movie was a huge commercial and critical success, grossing over $300 million worldwide and earning Bullock an Academy Award for Best Actress. The movie also popularized the term “blind side”, which refers to the side of the quarterback that is not protected by his vision and needs to be guarded by the offensive lineman.

What are Oher’s allegations?

    In his petition, filed on August 14, 2023, Oher claims that he never consented to be adopted by the Tuohys, as depicted in the book and the movie. He says that he only agreed to make them his conservators after they told him that it would make him a member of their family. He says that he discovered this lie in February 2023, when he learned that the conservatorship did not provide him any familial relationship with the Tuohys.

  Oher also alleges that the Tuohys exploited his story for their own financial gain, without his knowledge or approval. He says that they signed deals with Lewis, Warner Bros., and other entities that earned them and their two biological children millions of dollars in royalties from the book and the movie. He says that he did not receive any compensation for his story, which he says “would not have existed without him”. He also claims that the Tuohys used their influence to control his career decisions, such as which college to attend, which agent to hire, and which teams to play for.

    Oher is seeking to terminate the conservatorship and to recover damages from the Tuohys for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, conversion, unjust enrichment, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

What are the Tuohys’ responses?

    The Tuohys have issued a statement through their attorney Martin Singer on August 15, 2023, calling Oher’s allegations “outlandish” and “hurtful and absurd”. They say that they opened their home to Oher and treated him like a son and one of their three children. They say that they offered him structure, support, and unconditional love. They also say that they have consistently helped him financially throughout his life, even after he became a millionaire NFL player.

    The Tuohys also claim that Oher’s petition is part of a “shakedown” attempt by him. They say that Oher threatened them with going public with his story unless they paid him $15 million. They say that they refused to pay him because they did not do anything wrong. They say that they are confident that they will prevail in court and expose Oher’s lies.

What are the implications of this case?

     This case has raised many questions about the accuracy and ethics of The Blind Side as a book and a movie. Some critics have argued that the book and the movie perpetuated stereotypes about race, class, and charity. They have also questioned whether Oher’s story was told with his consent and respect. Some fans have expressed their disappointment and sadness over the breakdown of the relationship between Oher and the Tuohys. They have also wondered how this case will affect Oher’s mental health and well-being.

    This case also has legal implications for the parties involved. Oher will have to prove that the Tuohys deceived him into making them his conservators and that they breached their fiduciary duty to him. The Tuohys will have to defend themselves against Oher’s claims and show that they acted in his best interest. The outcome of this case could have a significant impact on the reputation and finances of both sides.

What are your thoughts on this case?

    Do you think Oher’s allegations are true or false? Do you think the Tuohys are innocent or guilty? Do you think The Blind Side is a true or false story? Share your opinions in the comments section below.