Michael Oher, the NFL footballer whose story inspired The Blind Side, has described his experience to seeing Sandra Bullock’s film for the first time.
Oher was taken in by Memphis couple Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy as a teenager after encountering troubles at home.
The parents hired a tutor, assisted him in obtaining his driver’s license, and provided him with clothing and food, all while pushing his football career, which eventually took him to the NFL.
His experience inspired the 2009 film in which Bullock played Leigh Anne, a’mother bear’ type who aggressively guarded Oher and urged him to do his best.
However, Oher, who is now 38 years old, believes he was misrepresented in the film and is still concerned about the consequences for his life.
Last year, the footballer sued the Tuohys, saying they profited from his story and seeking to dissolve the conservatorship established when Oher was 18. According to the lawsuit, he was under the impression that he was signing adoption documents.
In response, lawyers for the Tuohys contended that they have the right to share their tale, which includes Oher.
Sean Tuohy also told The Daily Memphian that he or Leigh Anne would’make money from any of our children’ was ‘upsetting’.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Oher said that he did not watch The Blind Side, which grossed more than $300 million at the box office, as soon as it was released.
READ MORE: Michael Oher Has Been Released From Conservatorship In The ‘Blind Side’ Case
The film was based on Michael Lewis’ 2006 book of the same name, and Oher told The Times that he believed the book had already had an impact on his character.
“The N.F.L. people were wondering if I could read a playbook,” he told me.
Eventually, a fellow footballer encouraged Oher to go see the movie in a theater.
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He claimed his reaction to witnessing what was supposed to be his narrative play out on film was ‘impossible to express’, adding: “It seemed kind of funny to me, to tell you the truth, like it was a comedy about someone else.”
“It didn’t register,” he added. “But social media was only getting started, and I started seeing things that made me feel dumb. I am stupid. “Every article about me mentioned ‘The Blind Side,’ as if it were part of my name.”
Fifteen years later, Oher is still concerned about the movie’s impact on his personal life.
“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?,” asked the father.
The case between Oher and the Tuohys is still pending.
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