Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy are denying numerous claims and allegations made against them by Michael Oher in a new legal filing, which was filed Thursday (September 14) in the Shelby County Probate Court. In the filing, they claim they’re ‘ready, willing, and able’ to end the conservatorship.
The family says they never had any intent to legally adopt him and only signed the conservatorship to ensure he was given an opportunity to play football at Ole Miss. They did, however, view, treat, and love Oher like a son – providing him with food, shelter, clothing, cars, and more while he stayed with them.
In a new court filing, the Tuohy family, who inspired the 2009 hit movie "The Blind Side," denied allegations that they tricked former NFL star Michael Oher into a conservatorship and kept the movie's profits for themselves. @eriellereshef reports. pic.twitter.com/Vl5ddK4EA6
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 15, 2023
While they did refer to him as a son and/or adopted son on occasion (and he referred to them as ‘mom’ and ‘dad’), they say the term was only used ‘in the colloquial sense and they have never intended that reference to be viewed with legal implication.’ There was never any intent to legally adopt Michael Oher.
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy also ‘vehemently deny’ viewing Oher as a ‘gullible young man whose athletic talent could be exploited for their own benefit.’ They claim the conservatorship was only filed in an effort to comply with NCAA rules, which said he could attend Ole Miss only if he was a part of the Tuohy family.
The petition states all parties (Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, Michael Jerome Williams, Jr. aka Michael Jerome Oher, and his mother Denise Oher) agree that THE [HIS] BEST INTERESTS WILL BE SERVED BY HIS BEING DECLARED A RESIDENT MEMBER OF THE TUOHY HOUSEHOLD, not an adopted adult. pic.twitter.com/hcT7EzZETE
— WHOMENTORSDOTCOM INC. Text FUNDS to 44321 (@RauhmelFoxCEO) September 6, 2023
They’re also contesting Oher’s claim that he knew nothing about the conservatorship until February 2023, when he said he first found out about it. The Tuohys alluded to Oher’s 2011 memoir I Beat the Odds, where he mentions being in a conservatorship more than a decade before he filed his motion to end it.
In addition to wanting the conservatorship ended, Oher is asking for a ‘full accounting of the money the Tuohys earned using Oher’s name’ and ‘to be paid what he is due, with interest.’ Meanwhile, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy are asking the Shelby County Probate Court to deny any request for financial relief.
Sean and Leigh Ann Tuohy DENY getting rich at expense of ex-NFL star Michael Oher whose 'adoption' inspired movie The Blind Side https://t.co/PhrJAA6dDe pic.twitter.com/w7LkmfV0yw
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) September 15, 2023
They’re claiming that Oher was given his fair share of the money made from The Blind Side – they say the proceeds were split equally among Oher, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, and their two other children with everyone receiving 20%. They also claim they paid 100% of the taxes on the 20% Oher was paid.
Michael Oher’s Lawyer Responds to Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy
One day after Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy filed their most recent court documents, Michael Oher and his lawyer, Don Barrett, released a statement in response. “We look forward to Mike finally getting his day in court, where we are confident that the truth will prevail,” they wrote in the statement, shared by PEOPLE.
The Tuohy’s filing and Barrett’s statement come exactly one month after Oher filed legal documents of his own that alleged he never knew about the conservatorship and recently found out his adopted parents never actually adopted him. He also claimed that the Tuohys made millions off his name and likeness.
“I am disheartened by the revelation shared in the lawsuit today,” Michael Oher shared in a statement on August 14. “This is a difficult situation for my family and me. I want to ask everyone to please respect our privacy at this time. For now, I will let the lawsuit speak for itself and will offer no further comment.”
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The Tuohys have maintained their innocence over the past month and have doubled down on what they believe to be true – that they didn’t do anything wrong and repeatedly acted out of love and respect for Oher. We should learn more in the coming months as the lawsuit makes its way through the legal process.