'The Blind Side' Controversy: NFL's Michael Oher seeks separation from Tuohy family: All you may want to know

Controversy surrounds the movie "The Blind Side" years after its release as Michael Oher, the former NFL player whose life inspired the film, seeks to sever legal ties with the Tuohy family, who took him in and featured in the movie. Oher, now 37, claims he was never adopted by the Tuohys as shown in the film and was misled into signing an agreement giving them control over his decisions and a share in the profits from the movie's success.

"The Blind Side," based on Michael Lewis' book, dramatizes Oher's journey from foster care to NFL success, with Sandra Bullock winning an Oscar for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy. While the film takes liberties with the real story, Oher had criticized its portrayal of him earlier, expressing concerns about being shown as unintelligent.

The movie's financial aspect has also sparked debate. The Tuohy family negotiated a movie deal, earning $225,000 each and 2.5% of the film's net proceeds. However, Oher, according to his petition, signed away his story rights to 20th Century Fox for no payment. Despite the movie's success, the Tuohys and Michael Lewis, who wrote the book "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game" claim their earnings were modest due to complex Hollywood accounting, media reports said.


Sandra Bullock's connection to the controversy led to calls for her to return her Oscar. Quinton Aaron, who portrayed Oher in the film, defended Bullock, stating she had no role in the real story. Industry insiders also dismissed the idea of Bullock losing her award, seeing it as unfounded Twitter outrage.

FAQs

Is 'The Blind Side' based on a true story?
Yes, 'The Blind Side' is a dramatized portrayal of Michael Oher's life, based on the book "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game" by Michael Lewis. The movie highlights Oher's journey from foster care to football success.

Who profited from 'The Blind Side' movie?
The Tuohy family negotiated a deal that earned them $225,000 each and a share of the film's proceeds. Oher, according to his petition, signed away his story rights without payment. The earnings were relatively modest due to complex Hollywood accounting, media reports said.