Retired NFL player Michael Oher is fighting a battle over his life story on two fronts: a legal battle with his childhood guardians, whom he accuses of making millions from book and television adaptations of his story, and now personal attacks from the story’s author. . story.
In an interview with The keeper“The Blind Side” author Michael Lewis suggested that Oher filed the lawsuit against his guardians, Sean Tuohy and Leigh Anne Tuohy, not because of a legitimate complaint, but because of mental illness caused by his time in the National Football League.
“What we are seeing is a change in behavior,” Lewis told The Guardian. “That’s what happens to football players who get hit in the head: they end up with problems of violence and aggression.”
Lewis also claimed that Oher, who played in the NFL from 2009 to 2016, was “useless” on the football field until he met Tuohy while attending a private high school in 2003. However, before moving to Tuohy, he was recognized as one of Tennessee’s best players.
These and other verbal attacks were published in The keeper on Tuesday, days after a judge released Oher from Tuohy’s custody. In August, Oher claims that that the Tuohys tricked him into signing the guardianship by telling him it was like adoption and that it would make him part of their family. Oher also claimed that they took advantage of him financially after the release of a book and movie based on his life and “adoption” story.
The lawsuit continues even though the guardianship has ended.
Lewis told The Guardian that Oher “wasn’t a strong voice in his life” and that he had to “unearth” the story to write the book.
Lewis also suggested that Oher was working with his lawyer to fabricate the story because the public would “support him if he made these allegations,” according to The Guardian article.
This is not the first time Lewis has supported Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy, his childhood friend, while questioning Oher’s mental state.
“What makes me really sad is that I watched it all up close,” Lewis. told The Washington Post in August. “They showered him with resources and love. The fact that he is suspicious of them is simply breathtaking. What state of mind do you need to be in to do this? I feel sorry for him.”
Lewis’ book was made into a highly acclaimed 2009 film, which won actress Sandra Bullock numerous awards, including an Oscar.
The story was called a “white savior” narrative, meaning it portrayed the Tuohys as Oher’s saviors without addressing other social barriers such as systemic racism. Oher later wrote in his book that the film unfairly portrayed him as “dumb”.
Additionally, conservatorship is usually granted when a judge believes a person is incapable of making their own decisions. Thus, it allows conservators to make legal, financial and other decisions for an individual.
‘I can’t believe this happened,’ judge said last month regarding custody between Tuohy and Oher.
Tuohys claims Auger made threats leak the story to the press before the trial began in an attempt at “extortion.”
“They continually treated him as a son and one of their three children,” Tuohy’s lawyer said in a statement after the lawsuit. “He responded by making threats to them, including saying that he would put a negative story about them in the press unless they paid him $15 million.”
Sean Tuohy told Daily Memphian They were “devastated” by the lawsuit in August but continue to love him no matter what.