Michael Oher, a former NFL player, says monetary gain wasn’t a motivation for his lawsuit against his former guardians, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy. “I’ve got millions of dollars; I’m fine,” he said. The pro athlete stated this during an interview with the New York Times Magazine, which was published on August 18, 2024.
Oher had filed a lawsuit against the couple, accusing the family of deceiving him of his legal family status. The couple took Michael Oher into their home as a teenager when he had nowhere to stay. According to Oher, the couple asked him to sign a conservatorship agreement at age 18, soon after he moved into their home.
The NFL star stated that the family made him believe that a conservatorship was more or less an adoption. However, he found out years later that they weren’t the same. Oher, now 38, whose life inspired the movie “The Blind Side,” ended the conservatorship after filing the lawsuit.
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Why Michael Oher Does Not Like “The Blind Side“
“The Blind Side” is a movie based on Michael Oher’s life, rise to fame, and adoption by the Tuohy family. Following its release in 2009, the film racked up multiple awards. For example, Sandra Bullock, who played Leigh Anne Tuohy, earned an Academy Award and Golden Globe for her performance.
The movie went on to amass $309.2 million at the box office. Before it became a movie, Michael Oher’s story was told in a book by Michael Lewis. The athlete has, however, repeatedly disagreed with his portrayal in both the book and the movie.
He complained that the story painted a less-than-complementary image of him. Michael Oher accused the Tuohys of lying about adopting him, a narrative that was reflected in the book and movie. Oher stated that the family used his name to make money from the movie.
The NFL star failed to attend the movie’s premiere in protest against his depiction. According to Oher, the film portrayed him as “dumb.” He also revealed that his colleagues began questioning his intelligence after the movie’s release.
Oher stated that he lost a higher draft position as a result. “The NFL people were wondering if I could read a playbook,” he added. “I started seeing stuff that I’m dumb. I’m stupid. Every article about me mentioned ‘The Blind Side’ like it was part of my name.”
Michael Oher’s Experience Living With the Tuohys
Michael Oher hasn’t denied the love and affection he received from the Tuohys while he was with them. He has described his experience with them as “great.” He recalled how the family went out of their way to make sure he was comfortable and well cared for.
They bought clothing for him and hired a private tutor to ensure he remained eligible for college football. “I had a bed to stay on. I was eating good. They got me a truck,” he revealed. In 2005, Michael Oher accepted a scholarship to play for the University of Mississippi. After that, the Baltimore Ravens drafted him, and his career blossomed from there.
Michael Oher Discusses His Controversial Lawsuit and the Motivation Behind It
More than a year after filing the lawsuit, Michael Oher has sat down with journalists to discuss the reason behind it. He debunked the notion that money was the reason he filed the lawsuit. However, he alleged that the Tuohys received millions of dollars from the movie while getting nothing for his rights.
“I worked hard for that moment when I was done playing and saved my money so I could enjoy the time,” he told the NYT. “I’ve got millions of dollars. I’m fine,” he stated in the interview. According to reports, Oher made a total of $34 million during his time playing with the three NFL teams he was part of.
In the legal documents, the Tuohys stated that they reached an agreement with Oher on how to share the book and movie’s proceeds even before he left the NFL.
“The family, including Mr. Oher, came to a verbal agreement to divide the proceeds from the book and the movie revenues evenly. Mr. Oher received and accepted one-fifth (1/5) of the total payments through 2016, subsequently, his share has been deposited into an account for the benefit of his son,” read the document.
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Why Michael Oher Waited a Decade To File the Lawsuit
Besides his motive, the timing of Michael Oher’s lawsuit has also raised questions. Commentators have wondered why the former NFL star took so long to take legal action. He responded to this question during the interview.
The sportsman revealed that he didn’t seek redress earlier because he didn’t want any distractions in his career. “Pro football’s a hard job. You have to be locked in 100 percent,” he said. “I went along with their narrative because I really had to focus on my NFL career, not things off the field,” he explained.
Michael Oher Family
Michael Oher was born in Memphis, Tennessee, as one of the 12 children of his father, Michael Williams, and mother, Denise Oher. Denise was an alcoholic and suffered from drug addiction while his father was in and out of prison before his death.
Michael endured a rocky childhood and struggled through school. He squatted with his classmate’s families before the Tuohys took him in. Michael Oher is happily married to Tiffany Roy, and they have four kids.
Reflecting on his rough childhood, Michael Oher has vowed to give his kids the care and attention he never received. “I’m going to be a great father, do all the right things, and make sure I’m there for them,” he wrote in his book “I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness to the Blind Side and Beyond.”
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