In a new interview with The Athletic, retired NFL star Michael Oher has alleged that the Tuohy family lied about adopting him and took all proceeds from the 2009 film “The Blind Side.”
Oher, who was raised in foster care, said that he never felt like a genuine member of the Tuohy family, and they only took him in because they wanted to make themselves look good. He also said they never gave him any money he earned from the film.
“They lied to me about everything,” Oher said. “They told me they would adopt me, but they never did. They just wanted to use me to make themselves look good.”
The Tuohy family has denied Oher’s allegations, calling them “false and defamatory.” They said they did everything they could to help Oher and never took any money from him.
“We are deeply saddened by Mr. Oher’s allegations,” the Tuohy family said. “We have always loved and supported Michael and will continue to do so.”
Oher’s allegations come when the Tuohy family faces increasing scrutiny. In recent years, there have been reports that they have exploited Oher for financial gain and have not been as supportive of him as they have portrayed themselves in the media.
The allegations against the Tuohy family are serious and deserve investigation. If Oher’s allegations are true, it would be a major scandal and call into question the entire story of “The Blind Side.”
In his interview with The Athletic, Oher said he is speaking out now because he wants to set the record straight. He said that he has been silent for too long and is tired of the Tuohy family profiting from his story.
“I’m not doing this for money,” Oher said. “I’m doing this because I want people to know the truth.”
It remains to be seen whether Oher’s allegations will be substantiated. However, his story is a reminder that even the most heartwarming stories can have a dark side.
Contact multi-media staff writer Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on Twitter @NoralParham. For more stories similar to The Blind Side allegations, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
