The Tuohy Family Claims They Have Not Received Millions from ‘The Blind Side’

Michael Oher, the subject of the acclaimed movie The Blind Side filed a petition saying Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy never legally adopted him and made millions of his story. However in a new update, the family claims they never made nearly as much money as people think. 

This all started when Micheal Oher, the real life subject of The Blind Side, played football at the University of Mississippi and was later drafted to the Baltimore Ravens in 2009. The star filed a petition Monday claiming that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy did not legally adopt him, but instead tricked him into signing a conservatorship before earning what he claims millions of dollars. 

In the petition, Oher alleges that each member of the Tuohy family were paid $225,000 for the film plus an additional 2.5% of the film’s proceeds. And Michael claims he got nothing. 

The Blind Side, which made over $300 million at the box office and went on to earn a nomination for best picture at the 2010 Academy Awards, hit home for many people. Stars like Sandra Bullock played a pivotal part in the story with even some online saying she herself should be removed of her award for her role in the film. 

And now a source close to the film told PEOPLE that the Tuhoys received only $700,000 total in rights, payments, and profits which was intended to be divided between the family members – Sean, Leigh Anne, their two biological children, and Oher. 

The source went on to note, The Tuohys have not received millions of dollars from the movie. They have not even received $1 million from the movie.”

Marty Singer, the attorney representing the family, also went on to deny Oher’s claims as well. 

The representative mentioned, “When Michael Lewis, a friend of Sean’s since childhood, was approached about turning his book on Mr. Oher and the Tuohys into a movie about their family, his agents negotiated a deal where they received a small advance from the production company and a tiny percentage of net profits. They insisted that any money received be divided equally. And they have made good on that pledge.”

In the petition, Oher also claimed that he unknowingly authorized the couple to be his conservators back in 2004, but the representative is also stating otherwise. 

According to the petition, the papers signed gave the Tuohys “total control” over Oher’s ability to sign contracts. His filing claimed that the Tuohys have “falsely and publicly represented themselves” as Oher’s adoptive parents and enriched themselves in doing so. 

Now the Tuohy family fought back on these claims stating that the conservatorship had to happen due to Oher being over the age of 18 and the inability to adopt him in any other way. 

The conservatorship was allegedly the only way the family could assist Oher in his journey to play football at a collegiate level.

The family attorney added in a statement, In spite of the false allegation in the lawsuit, the Tuohys have always been upfront about how a conservatorship (from which not one penny was received) was established to assist with Mr. Oher’s needs, ranging from getting him health insurance and obtaining a driver’s license to helping with college admissions. Should Mr. Oher wish to terminate the conservatorship, either now or at anytime in the future, the Tuohys will never oppose it in any way.”

On Monday, Oher said he was “dishearted by the revelation shared in the lawsuit.” Representatives for Oher responder to statements from the family saying they stand by the claims made from Oher. 

Oher’s representative’s stated, “We try cases in the courtroom based on the facts. We have confidence in our judicial system and in our client Michael Oher. We believe that justice will be served in the courtroom, and we hope to get there quickly.”

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