The Blind Side Controversy: Was Michael Oher's "True Story" Actually Fake? (2024)

Almost 14 years after the release of The Blind Side, Michael Oher came out with his side of the story, claiming that the movie, which was marketed as "based on a true story," was rooted in lies. The 2009 biographical sports drama was inspired by Michael Lewis' 2006 novel of the same name, which primarily focuses on the evolution of American football strategy but also touches on Oher's tale. Oher was a professional football tackle for eight seasons, having played for the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, and Carolina Panthers. However, Oher's journey to the NFL began when he was a child.

The all-star cast of The Blind Side, including Quinton Aaron as Oher, Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy, and Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy, came together to recreate (what everyone thought was) Oher's story for the big screen. Oher had a rough upbringing, which is putting it lightly. But, according to the movie, his encounter with the Tuohy family seemingly changed his life. Now, the truth behind what transpired between Oher and the Tuohys when the NFL star was a teenager is a bit murky.

The True Story Of The Blind Side's Michael Oher Explained

Oher's Football Prowess Earned Him A College Scholarship

The Blind Side reveals Michael Oher jumped between foster homes and periods of homelessness before meeting the Tuohy family. Oher's mother was a drug addict and his father was in and out of prison, making his living situation unstable. Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy offered to let the teenager stay at their house and allegedly adopted Oher while he played high school football. As the football movie reveals, Oher was an extraordinary athlete. However, his low GPA significantly lessened his chances of attending a Division 1 school. Thankfully, Oher's grades improved, and his dreams of playing college football became a reality.

Oher received scholarship offers from several reputable schools but ultimately picked the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), the Tuohys' alma mater. The Baltimore Ravens later drafted Oher in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played with the Ravens for most of his career, but Oher was also briefly with the Tennessee Titans and the Carolina Panthers before retiring in 2017. Although Oher had already made a name for himself due to his impressive athletic talents, The Blind Side thrust him into the spotlight. But more than a decade later, Oher wanted to tell his side of the story.

Michael Oher Claims The Blind Side Story Was A Lie

The Former NFL Star Filed A Lawsuit In 2023

According to ESPN, Michael Oher filed a lawsuit in August 2023 alleging that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy didn't adopt him and tricked him into agreeing to a conservatorship, which led to them profiting millions of dollars off his name. As conservators, the couple would have been able to make business deals on behalf of the football star. Oher claimed that the Tuohys told him conservatorship was essentially the same thing as adoption, so he signed the papers.

Oher petitioned a Tennessee court and claimed that parts of the athlete biopic The Blind Side were fictionalized, like the adoption plot line. As a result, the Tuohy family made a massive amount of money from royalties from the film. However, the petition didn't stop there.

Along with Oher alleging the adoption in The Blind Side was a lie, he also claimed that the Tuohy couple used their conservatorship power to guarantee they and their two children, Sean Jr. and Collins, profited off the 2009 movie. Meanwhile, Oher stated that he received no compensation for the movie adaptation of his life story. However, the majority of the petition focused on the Tuohy family's use of the word "adoption" to make money from Oher's story, and Oher's assertion that they never adopted him.

Why The Blind Side's "True Story" Aspect Was A Huge Factor In Its Success

The Blind Side's "True Story" Was Inspirational To Many

One of the reasons The Blind Side was so popular was that the movie was marketed as being based on an inspirational true story. People were drawn to the 2009 sports drama because it was seemingly a true tale full of hope and determination — two things immediately appealing to many audiences. Everyone wants to feel inspired, and the depiction of the Tuohys taking Oher in was as moving as films come. But now that a significant part of the movie's narrative is allegedly false, the controversy could taint The Blind Side.

Oher Learned About How The Tuohys Profited Off The Film

Michael Oher's lawsuit alleged that he discovered in February 2023 that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy never adopted him and tricked him into signing a document that made them his conservators. So, that is why he filed the petition almost 14 years after the 2009 movie The Blind Side premiered in theaters. Oher also claimed that he learned the Tuohy family profited off of royalties from the film, which seemingly baffled him because he had never received a check for the adaption of his story.

Oher is coming forward with his truth essentially because of the movie. The petition that his lawyers filed in August 2023 revealed that the former NFL player wished to end the Tuohy family's conservatorship. Oher also petitioned to stop the couple from using his name and likeness to earn profits since they technically are not his adoptive parents. Sadly, what once was seemingly an extraordinary true story brought to life by Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, and Tim McGraw in The Blind Side has become a question of what is the truth and what is lies.

What The Tuohy Family Has Said About Michael Oher's Claims

The Tuohys Alleged That They Never Intended To Adopt Oher

Michael Oher won his petition to end the conservatorship when a judge ruled in the former NFL star's favor in September 2023. Before the ruling, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy filed their response to Oher's lawsuit. According to NBC News, the couple admitted they "never intended to, and in fact never did, take any action to assume legal custody through the Juvenile Court of Shelby County." The Tuohys asserted that they never intended to exploit Oher, still saw him as a son, and were "ready, willing, and able to terminate the conservatorship by consent at any time."

Despite the ruling, the legal situation between Oher and the Tuohys got more complicated in December 2023 when the Tuohys alleged in a court filing that Oher attempted to extort them (per CBS News). According to the couple, Oher wanted $15 million from them and threatened to make his accusations public if he didn't receive the money. Unfortunately, there have been no other updates regarding the latest controversy regarding The Blind Side's inspirations.

The Blind Side

The Blind Side is a biographical sports drama film that follows the life of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American teenager who is adopted by a wealthy white family. Under the guidance of his adoptive mother, played by Sandra Bullock, Oher overcomes personal and academic challenges to become a successful college football player. The film, directed by John Lee Hanco*ck, is based on the real-life story of Oher's journey.

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Sources: ESPN, NBC News, CBS News