Michael Oher, subject of 'The Blind Side,' alleges family made millions off conservatorship lie

WASHINGTON (TND) — Retired NFL star Michael Oher, 37, petitioned Monday in a Tennessee court that the Tuohy family never actually adopted him and made millions off a lie.

Oher was the subject of the 2009 hit movie "The Blind Side."

A 14-page petition was filed in Shelby County and alleges Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy tricked the then 18-year-old into signing a document making them his conservators, which gave them legal authority to make business deals in his name, according to ESPN.

The petition also states the family used their powers as conservators to make a deal that paid them and their two children millions of dollars in royalties from the Oscar-winning film that earned more than $300 million while Oher allegedly got nothing.

The Tuohys have continued to call Oher their adopted son and use it to promote their foundation as well as Leigh Anne Tuohy's work as an author and motivational speaker, according to the petition.

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 states. "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.

The petition asks the court to end the Tuohy's conservatorship and to issue an injunction barring them from using his name and likeness. It also seeks to have the couple pay him his fair share of profits includingunspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

The petition continues to state, "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."

In Oher's 2011 best-selling memoir, he said the Tuohys told him there was no difference between adoption and conservatorship. However, if he had been adopted he would have been a legal member of the family and would have retained power to handle his own finances.

The Tuohys have not responded to ESPN for comments.