In recent court filings, the Tuohy family, known for taking in Michael Oher when he was in high school, claimed that the former NFL player threatened to defame them on social media and TMZ if his money demands weren’t met. This ongoing battle arises from Oher’s belief that he did not receive his fair share of the royalties from the film “The Blind Side,” which was adapted from the Michael Lewis book “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game.”
The Tuohy’s Allegations
According to court documents filed in Shelby County, Tennessee, Probate Court, Oher grew estranged from the Tuohy family following his retirement from the NFL. He believed that they had not paid him the money he was owed. Oher allegedly made two demands for money, initially asking for $10 million and later raising the amount to $15 million. He threatened to tell the world that he was robbed by his supposed parents if his demands were not met.
“If something isn’t resolved this Friday, I’m going to go ahead and tell the world how I was robbed by my supposed parents. That’s the deadline. Think how it will look when this comes out.” – Michael Oher
Oher’s Claims
In his petition filed in August, Oher alleged that he discovered he was never legally adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy and was tricked into entering a conservatorship after his 18th birthday. While a judge ended the conservatorship in September, the legal battle continued over the royalties from “The Blind Side.” Oher claimed that he was robbed of more than $50 million, but later lowered the figure to $10 million.
Royalties Dispute
Lawyers representing the Tuohys state that court documents from November 8th indicated that both Oher and the Tuohy family were paid the same amount, which totaled $138,311. This contradicts Oher’s claim that he did not receive his fair share of the royalties. However, Oher’s lawyers argue that this amount is significantly lower than what he believes he is owed.
The Adoption Revelation
One of the key points of contention in this legal battle is Oher’s allegation that he was never legally adopted by the Tuohy family. This revelation has led to a reevaluation of the relationship between Oher and the Tuohys. The couple has agreed to remove references to Oher being their adopted son from their websites and public speaking materials.
Oher’s NFL Career
Michael Oher was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played for the Ravens for five seasons and won a Super Bowl with the team. After a brief stint with the Tennessee Titans, Oher signed with the Carolina Panthers but was eventually released in 2017.
