The Facts
Michael Oher, the inspiration behind the Oscar-winning film The Blind Side, filed a petition on Monday claiming that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy never adopted him but instead used him as a "gullible" young man who could be "exploited for their own benefit."
The former NFL star alleges that the Tuohys tricked him into signing Conservatorship papers he thought were necessary as part of his adoption. Oher's Conservatorship reportedly allowed the Tuohys total control of his contracts worth millions.
The Spin
Narrative A
Though details of the ex-NFL star's story remain murky, these allegations expose how easily Americans have accepted a cinematic depiction as the gospel truth behind Oher's adoption into a white family. The Blind Side has long looked like the perfect example of interracial harmony, however, the adoption may have been a lie and Oher never received a dime from the movie's proceeds.
Narrative B
While Oher may feel frustrated over not receiving much money for the movie, he shouldn't have stabbed the family that embraced him as their own in the back. He was fully aware that the Tuohys had always wanted him to be legally part of the family but that a Conservatorship was the only option available at the time. This bombshell development is awful news for the Tuohys, who have spent years caring for Oher.
