Blindsided: A Movie Makeover

08/15/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Former NFL Player Michael Oher — Subject of 2009 Movie ‘The Blind Side’ — Claims Tuohy Family Made Millions From Lies

And just like that, one of the great American sports movies of the 21st century has come undone. Monday’s explosive story across the sports world and beyond centered around Michael Oher, the subject of the 2009 movie, ‘The Blind Side.’ In case you haven’t seen it in over a decade (or if you’ve never seen it), Oher, a homeless teenager shuffled through foster care, is adopted by a wealthy couple, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy. On the path to security and stability, the Tuohy’s encourage the 6-foot-4, 300-pound athlete to finish high school and excel at football, eventually landing him a full-ride to Ole Miss and an eight-year career in the NFL. It was a heartwarming story about family, football and second chances. Until yesterday…

Oher Fights Back

On Monday, the former football star petitioned a Tennessee court with allegations that the family lied about his adoption to profit at his expense. The 14-page document states that the Tuohys housed him as a high schooler but never adopted him. Then, they tricked him into signing a document that made them his “conservators” shortly after he turned 18. That document gave them legal authority to conduct business in his name — producing a book that eventually became the 2009 Oscar-winning film and earned over $300 million. The Tuohys reportedly received 2.5 percent in royalties. Oher says he never saw a dime from the movie, but Leigh Anne, played by Sandra Bullock, is an author and motivational speaker largely due to the story depiction. She continues to address Oher as her “adopted” son.

The Destruction of a Classic

For any sports fans who have seen the movie, it’s undoubtedly one of the most heartfelt sports stories of a generation, even with stereotypical undertones of privilege vs. poverty. But yesterday’s 14-page petition also clarified key mistakes within the presentation of Oher’s character. Specifically, Oher was an athletic phenom on the football field long before the Tuohy’s built a relationship with him, and they were just one of many families with whom he stayed during his homeless teenage years. Oher also claims the movie portrayed him as “mentally slow,” which hurt his professional career and caused coaches and front offices to make assumptions.

Why Now?

Michael Oher is 37 years old and now retired from football, but his wounds from the film still cut deep. He released a new book just last week: “When Your Back’s Against the Wall.” And it appears he’s attempting to rewrite the narrative about his life.

Suddenly, a great sports story has been slashed by untruths. And a family that long epitomized southern hospitality and colorblind love has now been… well, blindsided.

AP News: Michael Oher, Known for ‘The Blind Side,’ Sues to End Tuohy’s Conservatorship

NBC News: ‘The Blind Side’ Subject Michael Oher Says Adoption by Tuohy Family Was a Lie

Photo: Matthew Sharpe / Getty Images