The NFL star who inspired Sandra Bullock's movie The Blind Side has spoken out for the first time since filing a lawsuit against the family who took him in.
Michael Oher's story became known across the globe thanks to the 2009 movie, which detailed how the Tuohy family helped remove him from a tough living situation, welcomed him into their home and supported his glowing football career.
The movie was well-received by viewers and earned more than $300 million at the box office, but last year Oher petitioned a court in Tennessee with allegations about the details of his relationship with the Tuohys, claiming he had never been adopted by parents Sean and Leigh Anne.
Instead, he claimed he was 'tricked' into agreeing to make them his conservators, which gave them legal power over his money and big life decisions, as well as the opportunity to make business deals in his name.
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Oher's lawyers claimed the Tuohys exploited Oher to earn themselves roughly $8 million over the last 20 years.
Oher requested that the conservatorship be ended, and it was successfully dissolved.
The footballer has now spoken out for the first time in an interview with The New York Times, in which he recalled hearing the words 'I love you' for the first time at the age of 18.
"It was Sean and Leigh Anne [Tuohy] saying it," he told the magazine. "When that happens at 18, you become vulnerable.
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"You let your guard down and then you get everything stripped from you. It turns into a hurt feeling.”
Oher, who is now 38, made clear that his time with the family was 'great', as he enjoyed his own bed, good food, and the freedom of having a truck to drive.
However, he believes he was given an inaccurate portrayal in The Blind Side, and that it did not properly reflect who he was as an athlete or person.
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Recalling the moment he first watched the movie, Oher said: "It’s hard to describe my reaction. It seemed kind of funny to me, to tell you the truth, like it was a comedy about someone else. It didn’t register."
The movie also had an impact on Oher's career, as the way his character was presented left people thinking he was unintelligent.
"The NFL people were wondering if I could read a playbook," he recalled. “If my kids can’t do something in class, will their teacher think, ‘Their dad is dumb — is that why they’re not getting it?’"
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Oher said his football career as well as being 'so angry mentally' with the situation prevented him from filing a lawsuit against the Tuohy family earlier, but now he's focused on returning to 'the person [he] was before The Blind Side, personality-wise'.
“I’m still working on it," he said.
After Oher filed the lawsuit against the Tuohys, dad Sean told The Daily Memphian they were 'devastated' by the allegations.
“It’s upsetting to think we would make money off any of our children," he said. "But we’re going to love Michael at 37 just like we loved him at 16.”
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While the conservatorship has been dissolved, other parts of the lawsuit in which Oher is requesting monetary damages are still ongoing, with the Tuohys arguing that they have a right to tell the story of their family.
They have filed a motion to have some of the claims dismissed, which is set to be heard on October 1.
UNILAD has contacted an attorney for the Tuohy family for comment.
Topics: NFL, The Blind Side, Sandra Bullock, Michael Oher
Emily Brown