Ex-NFL Player Michael Oher Feels Blindsided by the Tuohy Family
Oher’s Petition Says the ‘Blind Side’ Movie Family Manipulated Him With Adoption Deception

Ex-NFL player Michael Oher, famously portrayed in “The Blind Side,” the blockbuster movie starring Sandra Bullock, has unleashed a legal storm by alleging that he was never truly adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, his self-proclaimed adoptive parents and family.
Instead, he claims they cunningly manipulated him into signing a conservatorship after he turned eighteen, granting them control over his financial dealings. Michael Oher today states that the papers he signed, presented as adoption documents, were actually the keys to his unwittingly-ceded autonomy to a conservatorship. Oops, it’s Britney again…
A Twisted Tale of Broken Trust
In a 14-page petition filed in the Shelby County, Tennessee, probate court, Oher recounts how he was taken under the Tuohys’ wing during his high school years. However, less than three months after he turned eighteen in 2004, the Tuohys purportedly tricked him into formalizing a conservatorship. This covert maneuver apparently gave them the upper hand in business negotiations carried out in his name – much like Britney Spears’ dad’s notorious conservatorship.
There was, in fact, an important legal distinction: if Oher had been adopted by the Tuohys, he would have been a true member of their family and would have been able to retain the power to handle his own money affairs; under the conservatorship, though, Oher surrendered that authority to the Tuohys, even though he wasn’t an adult sporting physical or psychological disabilities.
The conservatorship allowed the Tuohys to capitalize on the success of the Oscar-winning film “The Blind Side,” pocketing millions while Oher reaped nothing from a story that hinged on his life, the petition states.
The legal filing underscores the Tuohys’ alleged misuse of their power. They supposedly leveraged their conservator status to secure a lucrative deal for themselves and their natural children, benefiting from a movie that wouldn’t have existed without Oher’s experiences. Ex-NFL player Michael Oher feels the deception continued for years, with the Tuohys publicly touting him as their adopted son to boost their foundation and personal brands, even allowing the purchase of a considerable amount of fast-food businesses.
It was in February 2023 that Oher’s discovery of the truth shattered the trust he had in the Tuohys, as he realized he had been a pawn in their scheme. “Mike’s relationship with the Tuohy family started to decline when he discovered that he was portrayed in the movie as unintelligent,” Michael’s lawyer said. “Their relationship continued to deteriorate as he learned that he was the only member of the family not receiving royalty checks from the movie, and it was permanently fractured when he realized he wasn’t adopted and a part of the family.”
Demanding the End of the Conservatorship
Oher’s lawsuit doesn’t just aim to expose the alleged exploitation; it seeks justice. The filing calls for an end to the conservatorship, a prohibition on the Tuohys using his identity, and a demand for his rightful share of profits and compensation. The suit also questions the Tuohys’ fiduciary responsibility as conservators.
‘The Blind Side’ Family Responds
Sean Tuohy, a booster at the University of Mississippi, states that the conservatorship was designed to make sure Oher’s eligibility to play college football there was good, since being legally part of the family could prevent potential NCAA issues.
According to Tuohy, the decision was made with legal advice, and they even involved Oher’s biological mother in the process. He firmly denies the allegations of profiting significantly from the movie, stating that the family shared their earnings equally, with each member receiving about $14,000.
Amid these legal disputes, it’s evident that emotions run deep. Sean Tuohy Jr. spoke out, expressing his continued love and support for Oher throughout the years. He disputes the notion that Oher only found out about the conservatorship in February 2023, suggesting that Oher might have learned about it much earlier. Regardless, he emphasizes that their relationship is important to him.
Michael Oher’s Life Story
Growing up in a challenging environment, Oher’s early life was characterized by hardships. Born into a family of 12 children, he faced the challenges of a mother struggling with drug addiction. By the age of 11, ex-NFL Michael Oher found himself in foster care, bouncing between homes and even living on the streets at times. Despite his potential as a student, he encountered educational disruptions, attending 11 different schools in a span of nine years and experiencing academic setbacks.
A pivotal moment came when a friend’s father recognized Oher’s determination and introduced him to the principal of a private Christian school in a prosperous neighborhood. Starting in the 10th grade, Oher’s life began to shift. Despite the ongoing chaos in his home life, he excelled in various sports, including track and field, basketball, and football, thus pushing upward the Michael Oher stats.
His football talent quickly became evident, and he emerged as one of the country’s top offensive linemen in pure NFL scores during his time at the new school. College scholarship offers flooded in from prestigious football programs across the nation.
Amidst his unstable housing situation, Oher often found refuge in the homes of friends, including the Tuohys. The Tuohy family, whose children attended the same school, developed a close bond with Oher due to his exceptional athletic prowess. They extended their support by inviting him to spend more time at their home, even inviting him to move in and expressing their intention to adopt him.
As the legal battle unfolds, the once-uplifting narrative of “The Blind Side” movie is overshadowed by allegations of deception, exploitation, and betrayal. They have cast a shadow over the story that captivated audiences around the world. Furthermore, Oher feels broken at how “The Blind Side” depicted him; he feels it hurt his football career and tainted how people view him; that based on the film, decision-makers at the NFL assumed he was mentally challenged or slow, and that he did not have leadership skills.
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