Former National Football League offensive tackle Michael Oher spent eight seasons in the league, mostly with the Baltimore Ravens. He was selected by the Ravens in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draught while playing college football for the University of Mississippi, where he was named a unanimous All-American.
Additionally, he was a member of the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans. He competed in Super Bowl XLVII as the starting right tackle for the Ravens and Super Bowl 50 as the starting left tackle for the Panthers. But the former athlete claimed that he was blindsided by the fame and recognition he and his family received from the Sandra Bullock film that earned his family millions.
Michael Oher Claims That He Was Exploited by His Family
Michael Oher has said that the Tuohy family, who raised him as a youth and assisted him in finding success in football and in life, exploited him. Oher said in a 2023 court document that the Tuohys never truly adopted him and instead treated him as a “gullible” young man who might be “exploited for their own benefit.” Additionally, he claimed that the Tuohys tricked him into signing paperwork that placed him under their conservatorship, giving them power over his income and other parts of his life.
The Tuohys, meanwhile, have refuted Oher’s assertions and stated that they are “deeply disappointed” by them. Additionally, they have stated that they are “committed to helping Michael in any way that we can.” Uncertainty surrounds the case’s future because it is still open-ended.
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Although they have cast doubt on the plot of The Blind Side, the 2009 movie based on Oher’s life, Oher’s charges have also raised issues about the nature of the relationship between Oher and the Tuohys. The Tuohys reportedly negotiated a $225,000 deal along with 2.5% of the film’s net earnings for themselves and their biological children, while Mr. Oher “received nothing,” according to the court document.
Sandra Bullock’s Oscar-Winning $309M Michael Oher Movie
The 2009 American sports drama film The Blind Side is a movie that depicts the tale of Michael Oher, an American football player, who, with the aid of his adoptive parents Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, survived a difficult upbringing to play in the NFL. At the time of its release, the movie garnered mixed reviews from fans and critics, but despite some setbacks, it was a massive success.
The Blind Side was a commercial success as it earned a massive $309.2 million from its worldwide box office against a budget of merely $29 million. The movie also went on to win numerous awards and accolades, the main highlight being the Academy Award that Sandra Bullock won for her superior performance as Leigh Anne Tuohy.
The movie has a very decent IMDb rating of 7.6/10 and has received numerous awards and prizes apart from the Oscar win and nomination. They are the Critics Choice Awards, the Golden Globes, MTV Movie + TV Awards, and many others. However, Michael Oher was not very satisfied with the movie as it was one of the primary reasons that caused his downgrade.
The athlete went on to share that the movie had portrayed him as “mentally slow” and he also felt that the movie emphasized more on Sandra Bullock’s character than his. It is significant to note that Oher has not offered any proof to back up his claims. His claims, however, should be regarded seriously because they are serious. Before deciding whether or not Oher was exploited, the court will need to hear testimony from both Oher and the Tuohys.
Source: BBC News
