"Avast ye, ye landlubbers! 'Blind Side' scribe Michael Lewis be speakin' on Michael Oher's scrawny claim 'gainst the Tuohy crew!"
2023-08-17
Arrr, mateys! 'Tis Michael Lewis, the scribe o' "The Blind Side," finally speakin' out 'bout the hullabaloo 'round the Tuohy crew and Michael Oher, all thanks to that movin' picture.
Author Michael Lewis, known for his book "The Blind Side," has spoken out about the controversy surrounding former NFL player Michael Oher and the Tuohy family. Lewis revealed that none of the individuals involved in the book received a significant amount of money from the successful movie adaptation, which earned around $310 million. Oher recently filed a lawsuit claiming that the Tuohys never adopted him but instead created a conservatorship over him, and he did not receive any money from the film. The Tuohy family's lawyer stated that they estimated Oher and the family each received $100,000 from the movie, and taxes were paid on Oher's portion. Lewis blamed the Hollywood studio system for the lack of financial compensation, emphasizing that the money did not go into the Tuohys' pockets. He disclosed that the studio paid $250,000 for the rights to the book, and he split the money evenly with the Tuohy family. While the movie was a financial success, Lewis said he and the Tuohys only received around $350,000 each. He believed the family intended to share the money with Oher, but he declined the royalty checks. Lewis expressed his sadness at Oher's suspicion of the Tuohys, noting that they had provided him with resources and love. The Tuohys' lawyers revealed that they plan to end the conservatorship and that Oher had mentioned it several times in his own book. Oher alleged that the Tuohys falsely represented themselves as his adoptive parents and only discovered the true nature of the conservatorship in February. The family's attorney denied Oher's allegations and stated that they would not oppose ending the conservatorship if he chose to terminate it. The conservatorship was established after Oher turned 18 and had not been taken into custody by the Tennessee Department of Human Services. The Tuohys explained that the conservatorship was the fastest way to address the NCAA's concerns about their involvement in Oher's college selection. They also emphasized that it was intended to assist Oher with health insurance, obtaining a driver's license, and college admission. Despite the controversy, Oher went on to have a successful career in the NFL, playing for the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and Tennessee Titans.