Is the hit film “The Blind Side” based on a lie? Ex-NFL pro Michael Oher has now filed a lawsuit against his alleged adoptive family.

“The Blind Side” has thrilled many football fans. Even many people who have nothing to do with the NFL were moved by Michael Oher’s path from poor circumstances to the best football league in the world.

How the Tuohy family took him in and supported him in his endeavours. That was feelgood at its best.

The fact that Hollywood superstar Sandra Bullock played a leading role (and won an Oscar for it) may also have been a reason for the success of the flick, which was nominated for another Academy Award for Best Picture. But now there is a surprising twist that has nothing at all to do with a Hollywood-style happy ending.

Because Oher has filed a 14-page petition in court, ESPN reports. The short form takes what’s good about the story to absurdity. That’s because a key element of the story is allegedly based on a lie, according to the allegation.

Was Oher never adopted?

According to this, Oher, whom the Tuohys took in as a high school student, was never adopted by the family. Rather, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy allegedly tricked him into signing a guardianship.

With that, they allegedly had power of attorney to do business for him, even after he turned 18. In addition, the lawsuit alleges, he gave 20th Century Fox Studios the rights to his story “without any payment. “

The Tuohys allegedly sold the film rights and collected a lot of money, none of which Oher allegedly received. Leigh Ann Tuohy, played by Bullock in the film, also allegedly referred to Oher as her adopted son in order to promote her foundation and other projects.

According to the court filing, Oher learned of this in February 2023. He had had a suspicion for some time, but only looked into it more intensively after his active career.

In his memoirs, he had written in 2011 that the Tuohys had told him that there was no difference between guardianship and adoption.

Relationship finally broken

“Mike’s relationship with the Tuohy family began to deteriorate when he discovered he was portrayed as unintelligent in the film,” said his lawyer J. Gerard Stranch IV. “Their relationship deteriorated further when he learned he was the only family member not receiving royalties from the film, and it was finally shattered when he realised he was not adopted and not part of the family.”

According to the statement of claim, there was $225,000 each for the Tuohys and their biological children, plus 2.5 per cent of the film’s “stipulated net receipts”. Sports business analyst Darren Rovell calculates that the 2009 flick cost only $30 million and grossed $300 million, earned the family $4.6 million after all deductions.

The Blind Side had a budget of $30 million and grossed $300 million at the box office.

Based on standard cut, movie netted roughly $175 million.

Touhy children reportedly got $225,000 + 2.5% of net proceeds.

That’s $4.6M each.

Sandra Bullock was paid $5M.

– Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 14, 2023

As ESPN reports, the Tuohys have always denied making much money from the film in the past. What they did take in, they would have allegedly shared with Oher.

Oher claims for damages, among other things

Oher, in turn, is now seeking both termination of the guardianship and an injunction to prevent the Tuohys from continuing to make a profit with his name. The 37-year-old is also seeking damages.

In a statement, Oher writes: “It is with a heavy heart that I noticed the publication of the indictment today. This is a difficult time for my family and me. I ask for privacy at this time and let the indictment speak for me. Until further notice, I will have no further comment on the matter.”

After all, no one can take away his sporting happy ending, because his career was a success. After the Baltimore Ravens selected him in the first round in 2009, the left tackle played there for five years and won the Super Bowl in 2013. He then went to the Tennessee Titans for one year and the Carolina Panthers for two, with whom he reached the Super Bowl again but lost.