Tuohy family attorney claims Michael Oher demanded $15 million before lawsuit over 'The Blind Side' residuals
A day after former Ole Miss and NFL offensive lineman Michael Oher alleged that the Tuohy family misled him in order to profit off of him, the family has responded.
According to TMZ, the Tuohy family says through its attorney that Oher recently tried to get $15 million from them in order to not go public with a negative story about the family.
Marty Singer, who is the lawyer for the Tuohy family, told TMZ Sports in a statement that Oher came to the family prior to filing a petition on Monday and threatened to “plant a negative story about them in the press” unless they paid him $15 million.
The statement to TMZ adds that Oher’s claims are “hurtful and absurd” and have left the family “heartbroken.”
“The idea that the Tuohys have ever sought to profit off Mr. Oher is not only offensive, it is transparently ridiculous,” the statement reads. “The notion that a couple worth hundreds of millions of dollars would connive to withhold a few thousand dollars in profit participation payments from anyone — let alone from someone they love as a son — defies belief.”
The statement goes on to say that the Tuohy family offered Oher “structure, support and unconditional love” and that money from the movie has been divided equally since the family first started profiting off of the film.
Singer adds that the family has always been up front about how a conservatorship works and that it was “established to assist with Mr. Oher’s needs.” It also states that “should Mr. Oher want to terminate the conservatorship, either now or anytime in the future, the Tuohys will never oppose it in any way.”
In the film “The Blind Side,” Oher is adopted by the Tuohy family to protect him from living on the streets. However, Oher alleges the Tuohys tricked him into signing a document, making them his conservators. This agreement allowed the Tuohys to make business deals and profit off Oher’s name.
“The lie of Michael’s adoption is one upon which Co-Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves at the expense of their Ward, the undersigned Michael Oher,” the legal filing says, per ESPN. “Michael Oher discovered this lie to his chagrin and embarrassment in February of 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the basis that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy family, in fact provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys.”
Oher alleges the Tuohy family used their power as conservators to turn his story into ‘The Blind Side,’ which the family allegedly received millions in royalties from. Further, Oher claims he did not receive money from the film using his name and life story.
In the petition, Oher is asking to end the Tuohy’s conservatorship over him. Additionally, Oher has asked to be reimbursed for any financial gains the Tuohys have made from using his name.
“Since at least August of 2004, Conservators have allowed Michael, specifically, and the public, generally, to believe that Conservators 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 says. “All monies made in said manner should in all conscience and equity be disgorged and paid over to the said ward, Michael Oher.”
The Baltimore Ravens selected Oher with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Oher spent eight seasons in the league, playing for the Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers. In total, Oher appeared in 110 contests.