The subject of the Oscar winning movie 'The Blind Side' believed he was being adopted but alleges he was misled into a conservatorship
The subject of a $300 million grossing, Oscar winning movie, says he got none of the proceeds because the couple he believed had adopted him were actually conservators.
Former NFL star Michael Oher’s story was told in the Sandra Bullock movie ‘The Blind Side’ based on the Michael Lewis book of the same name, detailing his journey from a homeless child to a sports star with the Baltimore Ravens.
Central to the story were Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy who took Oher into their care while he was in high school.
In a petition filed with a Tennessee court on Monday, Oher alleges that the couple presented him with papers to sign which he believed was a form of adoption. However, the documents created a conservatorship which have the Tuohy’s rights to conduct business arrangements in Oher’s name.
This agreement, the filing alleges, gave the Tuohy’s the means to exploit the football star’s name and make millions of dollars for themselves. It was in place until Oher reached 25 years of age or until terminated by the court.
Last year, Sahar Abdul Zahir, a financial advisor with BlueShore Financial in West Vancouver, told Wealth Professional that she was seeing a rise in disputes in blended families.
Adoption lie?
"The lie of Michael's adoption is one upon which Co-Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves at the expense of their Ward, the undersigned Michael Oher," the legal filing says. "Michael Oher discovered this lie to his chagrin and embarrassment in February of 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the basis that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy family, in fact provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys."
None of the allegations made have been proven in court and the Tuohy’s told the Daily Memphian that they didn’t make any money from the movie – just a share of the book sales which Michael benefitted from - and are devastated by the allegations.
"It's upsetting to think we would make money off any of our children. But we're going to love Michael at 37 just like we loved him at 16,” Sean Tuohy told the media platform, adding that the conservatorship was advised by lawyers and was aimed at Oher’s college football eligibility.
The couple’s lawyer told ESPN that a legal response to the court filing would be filed in the coming weeks.
