Michael Oher – the former NFL tackle whose story was the subject of the Oscar-winning The Blind Side – has apparently demanded Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy pony up $15 million in royalties from the movie after they allegedly exploited his life. And if they don’t, he’ll go right to the place where this sort of story flourishes: TMZ.
As per TMZ – who has obtained legal documents over the strife between Oher and the Tuohy family – the former football player would claim that the Tuohy family “robbed [him] of fifty million+”, although he significantly lowered the number to $10 million as the case progressed. After Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy rebuffed that number, he upped it to $15 million after taxes. Oher has allegedly continued his threats. According to one text, Oher wrote, “If something isn’t resolved this Friday, I’m going to go ahead and tell the world, how I was robbed by my suppose to be [sic] parents. That’s the deadline…Think how it will look when it comes out.” We’re not quite sure Oher is aware how it’s starting to really look…In response, the Tuohy family’s attorneys called Oher’s requests “menacing.”
The legal issues go back to August, when Michael Oher claimed that Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy never officially adopted him despite being led to believe that they had. Instead, he said the couple tricked him into signing documents that enacted a conservatorship, which allowed certain decisions to be made in his name. As such, Oher demanded that the conservatorship end, which was granted the following month.
The Blind Side lead Sandra Bullock – who, no, should not have to return her Oscar despite ridiculous calls – had thoughts on the issue, with a source saying, “She hates that such a wonderful story, a spectacular movie, and a spectacular time in her life now has been tainted…Now people won’t watch it and if they do, they will have a completely different reaction to its original intention.”
Where do you see the situation between Michael Oher and the Tuohy family heading? Who will ultimately win out? Give us your predictions below.