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Former NFL star Michael Oher, inspiration for "The Blind Side," claims Tuohy family never adopted him
CBS ^ | 08 14 2023 | Khristopher J. Brooks

Posted on 08/14/2023 3:53:07 PM PDT by yesthatjallen

Michael Oher, the former NFL offensive lineman and inspiration for the 2009 box office success "The Blind Side," told a Tennessee judge on Monday that contrary to the film version of his life he was never adopted by the Tuohy family, and alleged that the family earned millions from the story.

Oher, now 37, has petitioned a Shelby County judge to revoke the conservatorship from the Tuohys, arguing that he's old enough to handle his own business affairs. The Tuohys "have falsely and publicly represented themselves as the adoptive parents of Michael," the petition claims.

In "The Blind Side," Lee Anne Tuohy was portrayed by Sandra Bullock, while Sean Tuohy was played by Tim McGraw.

"Since at least August of 2004, Conservators have allowed Michael, specifically, and the public, generally, to believe that Conversators adopted Michael and have used that untruth to gain financial advantages for themselves and the foundations which they own or which they exercise control," the petition alleges.

SNIP

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: adoption; blindside; liberals; movie
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To: Fledermaus

Michael earned $34,506,875 throughout his career. Has net worth now $16 million.


41 posted on 08/14/2023 4:57:26 PM PDT by navysealdad (http://drdavehouseoffun.com/)
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To: yesthatjallen

He must be broke now.


42 posted on 08/14/2023 4:57:34 PM PDT by wjcsux (On 3/14/1883 Karl Marx gave humanity his best gift, he died. )
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To: roadcat

The Tuohys didn’t tell the story; the moviemakers did. By your logic, the film company wasn’t obligated to share the proceeds of the movie. If the Tuohys were entitled to share the movie’s profits because it was about them, then so was Oher entitled to share.


43 posted on 08/14/2023 5:02:13 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: escapefromboston

The film made him out to be stupid and all.

He never received any royalties from the film while the family made money.


44 posted on 08/14/2023 5:06:34 PM PDT by DMD13
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To: wjcsux

See the post directly above yours.


45 posted on 08/14/2023 5:06:52 PM PDT by LouAvul (Daniel 4:17: "..the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.." )
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To: yesthatjallen

The Tuohy’s net worth is around $75 million. Yeah, someone is broke and looking for a pay day. He only waited 14 years to complain about the movie.


46 posted on 08/14/2023 5:09:36 PM PDT by dowcaet
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

Actually, the latest estimate is Michael Oher is currently worth $16 million.

If the Tuohys are actually grifters they should pay a price in court. What has been alleged is very sleazy.


47 posted on 08/14/2023 5:14:27 PM PDT by devere
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To: Cowgirl of Justice
"And I don’t think any state would allow an unrelated child to just move in with a family without legal paperwork."

He supposedly moved in with the Touhy family in 2004. He was either 18 already, or turning 18 soon, and still a nobody at that time, so why would they need to be his conservators? Besides, doesn't a Judge have to approve someone being granted a conservatorship over another person, even if it's a family member? Britany Spears was in a court-ordered Conservatorship for at least 13 years. If this happened with Oher, there would have to be public records regarding it, and I can't believe that some journalist wouldn't have checked out the original story when the movie came out, even Michael Lewis, who wrote the book the movie was based on. If he was any kind of author, he would have researched the family, and their relationship with Oher, especially before he sold the rights to the book for a movie. I'd like to hear from him as to what he uncovered.

48 posted on 08/14/2023 5:14:32 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: LouAvul

So he’s burned through $18.5 million so far.


49 posted on 08/14/2023 5:14:48 PM PDT by wjcsux (On 3/14/1883 Karl Marx gave humanity his best gift, he died. )
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To: Fledermaus
Why would they? He was already almost 18.

Why would they seek a legal conservatorship over an almost 18 year old who had no obvious competency issues? I mean, aside from the fact that he was an NFL-level talent.
50 posted on 08/14/2023 5:16:27 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: All

Two thoughts, no three:

He’s worth 16 million right now. It’s that enough?

He got married a while ago. Maybe New Wife wants a bigger payday when she divorces him in the near future?

I will never speak ill of Sandra Bullock. We both got divorced in 2010 and we both got bangs. There was no going backwards; only Blue Skies Ahead for us both after that horrific year. :)

And in all fairness, HER divorce was MUCH more public than mine, LOL!


51 posted on 08/14/2023 5:18:57 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: roadcat
Oher definitely benefited. And should not complain. The Tuohy family told their story, and a movie was later made. Such is life. Why can't a black man tell his own story

Sounds like you didn't examine any details.

the couple tricked him into signing a document making them his conservators, which gave them legal authority to make business deals in his name.

...

The petition further alleges that the Tuohys used their power as conservators to strike a deal that paid them and their two birth children millions of dollars in royalties from an Oscar-winning film that earned more than $300 million, while Oher got nothing for a story "that would not have existed without him."

...

Oher was a rising high school senior when he signed the conservatorship papers, and he has written that the Tuohys told him that there was essentially no difference between adoption and conservatorship. "They explained to me that it means pretty much the exact same thing as 'adoptive parents,' but that the laws were just written in a way that took my age into account," Oher wrote in his 2011 best-selling memoir "I Beat the Odds."

But there are some important legal distinctions. If Oher had been adopted by the Tuohys, he would have been a legal member of their family, and he would have retained power to handle his own financial affairs. Under the conservatorship, Oher surrendered that authority to the Tuohys, even though he was a legal adult with no known physical or psychological disabilities.

52 posted on 08/14/2023 5:20:44 PM PDT by Gunslingr3
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To: chrisinoc
"But I think the extremely low grade issue was true."

Even wikipedia mentioned his bad grades. They cite a 0.76 grade average as a senior, that he managed to raise to 2.52 GPA in order to qualify for an NCAA Division I school. His mother was an alcoholic, and crack addict, and his father was a career convict who was eventually murdered behind bars when Oher was a senior in high school. The kid certainly didn't have an easy childhood, but a lot of kids have bad childhoods, but don't get the opportunity to play in the NFL.

53 posted on 08/14/2023 5:21:10 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: yesthatjallen

Sounds like he burned through all of his NFL moneey


54 posted on 08/14/2023 5:22:40 PM PDT by Steven Tyler
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To: Gunslingr3

Doesn’t the NFL automatically offer monetary guidance to players?


55 posted on 08/14/2023 5:26:13 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear ("Equity" = "All animals are equal. Some animals are more equal than others.")
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To: HartleyMBaldwin
" If the Tuohys were entitled to share the movie’s profits because it was about them, then so was Oher entitled to share."

Oher was 23 by the time the movie came out, and more than legal age. Wouldn't the film company be obligated to make sure he legally got a part of the film proceeds?

56 posted on 08/14/2023 5:26:13 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: yesthatjallen

It appears both the Tuohy family & Michael Oher benefited by the relationship. They once owned over 100 KFC & Taco Bell restaurants. If he made $34 million from the NFL etc., I doubt the family made that much from the book and movie.


57 posted on 08/14/2023 5:27:36 PM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14/12 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15/12 - 1030am - Obama team scouts photo-op locations.)
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To: mass55th

I would think so, but of course I have no knowledge of any of the contracts involved among the various parties.


58 posted on 08/14/2023 5:29:15 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: Gunslingr3
"The petition further alleges that the Tuohys used their power as conservators to strike a deal..."

He turned 18 in 2004 when he moved in with the Tuohys. Any Conservatorship, if one existed would have had to be approved and ordered by a Judge. You don't just print those papers up on LegalZoom.com, sign them, and have they're notarized. I would also assume, that since he was almost 18, or already 18, that he would have been required to attend whatever court hearing was conducted, in order for the Tuohy's to be confirmed as Conservators. I don't think this guy is telling the whole story, and wants to be looked upon as the victim. He wouldn't be the first ingrate NFL player.

59 posted on 08/14/2023 5:31:35 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: Steven Tyler

The latest estimate is Michael Oher is currently worth $16 million. And I’m guessing he also spells money better than you do.


60 posted on 08/14/2023 5:41:00 PM PDT by devere
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