Michael Oher, Subject Of The Film 'The Blind Side', Claims He Was Manipulated And Lied To
Image Source: Biography
Michael Oher is a name you likely recognize if you’re a fan of football, the NFL, and/or sports-themed movies and books. Oher’s story was used as the basis for The Blind Side (2009), and the man’s career spanned eight seasons in the NFL. Oher is alleging that he did not see profit from his life story being sold, and is petitioning to end his conservatorship with the Tuohy family.
Oher allegedly signed conservatorship papers believing them to initiate the adoption process; unknown to him, this gave the family control over everything. A judge granted this, allegedly finding Oher in need of this despite the lack of physical or psychological disabilities, or his being otherwise incapacitated. The filing explains (via THR), “At no point did the Tuohys inform Michael that they would have ultimate control of all his contracts, and as a result Michael did not understand that if the Conservatorship was granted, he was signing away his right to contract for himself.
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The filing continues, “Michael was falsely advised by the Tuohys that because he was over the age of eighteen, that the legal action to adopt Michael would have to be called a ‘conservatorship’ but it was, for all intents and purposes, an adoption.” Adult adoption, while sometimes more difficult depending on the circumstances, is possible in Tennessee.
Image Source: IMDb
Oher’s lawyer, Anne Johnson, says that the man “received nothing for his rights to a $330 million story that would not have existed without him.” The start of Oher’s story being produced came with the book based on his story The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game, written by Michael Lewis in 2006. This eventually was picked up by studios for a film adaptation, with Alcon Entertainment taking the reins. The film made over $330 million at the global box office. Oher vocally disliked the portrayal of his character in the film as well, as it was an inaccurate representation of himself.
The Tuohys have counterclaimed through the father, stating that they never made money from the film adaptation, though a full statement has not been released. They did not deny the conservatorship.
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Source(s): THR, CNN, The Tennessean
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