How Michael Oher's lawsuit against the Tuohy family could pan out | Outside the Lines

Michael Fletcher joins "Outside the Lines" to discuss the latest on Michael Oher's suit against the Tuohy family.
#outsidethelines #espn #nfl
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[@CD6OO]

Okay so I’m from Memphis and I can promise you we DO NOT HAVE SCHOOL WHEN IT SNOWS so that’s a lie🤣🤣🤣

[@thegoons3415]

they act like it snows every winter

[@easalsoeas4565]

I remember a big ice storm in Texas a few years ago that shut down the whole state and even kill many people, I also have seen snow in Atlanta, GA , so I have a hard time believing that there is no snow in Memphis TN, clearly you are spreading disinformation and propaganda.

[@kengy1991]

I’m here in Memphis too. Sometimes kids to go to school when it snows but more so just flurries. That’s probably what they were talking about. Definitely schools shut down when it ices.

[@covertpuppytwo3857]

So why doesn't Michael deny that part of the story?

[@channingfranklin8234]

​@covertpuppytwo3857 because they made him sign a contract he probably didn't know what it was to after he sign but either way it wasn't right and they made a movie and he was paid nothing.

[@Iambigjones]

1:55 "I looked at my husband one night and said I think we need to legally adopt him"... Never adopted him and gave him a conservatorship for good measure.

[@8mathdaddy]

I think they couldn't adopt him because he was already 18 when they decided to adopt him. They had to take the alternative route to become the legal guardian so he can get into college.

[@nafeesahsdaughter2099]

You actually can adopt someone after the age of 18.

[@carmencousin3730]

@@8mathdaddy Since when does a person need a guardian to get into college especially when you’re a top level recruit? Secondly, a person over 18 can be adopted.

[@714milky]

Is there a chance that they wanted to help the young man with the extremely difficult decisions that come from college, agents and pro sports? Furthermore....he was 18....who forced him to sign anything?

[@winifredomauricio3114]

@@carmencousin3730 Since the family were boosters/ alumni for U of Tennessee the NCAA would make Oher ineligible for a scholarship since it looks like hes taking gifts from boosters. so they needed docs to show he was family to be eligible. Ultimately, he chose to go to Ole Miss

[@Minolla]

There goes one of my favorite movies 😢

[@otb8379]

I FEEL THE EXACT SAME

[@S_67F]

@@otb8379 He just happened to figure this stuff out after being retired from the low part of a career?

[@jimevans1112]

Where did it go?

[@lokchan9399]

I will wait for the full details before judging either party.

[@rejjie_thedeity]

Yeah, you're white. We should all wait for their side of the story too.. Right* mybad for the wrong word placement

[@rejjie_thedeity]

@Jeff-qd3jy anti American? Come up with another insult. One that lacks emotion and is full of logic.

[@maximusthemerciful9452]

@Jeff-qd3jyit’s easier to assume he’s a victim in all this.

[@calvs420]

It’s a Savior complex

[@jimevans1112]

I'm gonna cry myself to sleep tonight just thinking about this lawsuit and the people it's going to affect. Hollywood used to be so up standing what happened? The lies they tell in these movies is mind boggling. First we find out Roots wasn't real, now the Blindside?

[@FrancisSiuChock]

The issue you have now is the way Film Studios define 'profit'. A movie can make, in this case $300M box office, but the film studio can cook the books where they don't make a dime, or actually lose money. If there is a trust being help in Michael Oher's name then that will come out in court. Also, the only one that is going to profit from all of this are the lawyers as usual.

[@michaelschaefer1904]

Yep. Some consider accounting like a science. Some cheat while thinking it's an art. He got some bad legal advice.

[@darnelllewis5984]

​@@michaelschaefer1904 Sounds like you empathize with the family! Typical

[@travisdempster4693]

​@@darnelllewis5984Can't you empathize with both? Michael felt so close to them that he wanted to be adopted by them. You can hear his own words of appreciation for their involvement in his life.

[@johnbeechy]

nah. the ends of the means equate to what was paid to each. use their tax returns. if they did not report the payments made, then each of the family could face jail time for tax fraud // Article 1 S 8 P1 of the usa constitution was written before all amendments and President George washington sent the army to arrest the whiskey rebels for firing their muskets before paying their taxes. if the family had been black and mike was white, there be a Crossing // let USA read their tax returns, like reading trumps, and find out the dark truth // i am not shocked mike did not allow one of his fans to use the hoax on them colds, flus now kill more than the bullets /

[@Bruss813]

The movie cost $29M to make. Go do some research before you start peddling for the family.

[@galndixie]

According to several articles, he was in and out of foster care from the time he finished 1st grade and, at 16, when they took him in, he was couch-surfing. His grades were atrocious, his GPA was .76, that is ridiculous. They took him to 2 psychologists who judged his IQ to be around 80 (only 9% of the population scores less than 80), and he had learning disabilities. The family had to pay tutors to work with him 20 hours a week for him to get his GPA up to a 2.52 just for him to get into college, and he still had to take some online classes to get it up to 2.65 to make the cut. Tutoring isn't cheap, Michael didn't pay for it. He didn't pay for anything, the family footed his bills. They fed, clothed and sheltered him, got him into a good school so he could get a degree. Even with a full-ride scholarship, there are still hefty expenses for college, he didn't pay that. He earned $34M in 8 years in the NFL, his net worth is $25M. What is his complaint? They could have left him out on the street like he was, and he could still be living that way.

[@thezu9250]

They took him in his final year. He was going into senior year. This young man literally did all of that on his own with the help of other people. He obviously doesn’t have a low IQ. He was already nationally ranked by the time they took him in. He was already a highly sought after prospect. So please stop taking away all of his hard work, and giving it to these people who swooped in at the last moment. If they did it out of generosity, they wouldn’t have tricked them into signing a conservatorship, where they were able to sell his story and profit off of it. That’s not what you do out of the kindness of your heart. They liked having the prestige. It’s a football town after all. They werent going to help some random kid. They picked a sure bet.

[@castlerock58]

@@thezu9250 He appears to have a low IQ but not to the level that would make him legally disabled.

[@aldoabruzzi6417]

@@thezu9250 Wrong. They welcomed him into their home in his *Junior* year, BEFORE he had a single college offer. Don't believe me? Michael Oher says it in his own autobiography: _"It kind of felt like a formality, as _*_I’d been a part of the family for more than a year at that point_*_ . Since I was already over the age of eighteen and considered an adult by the state of Tennessee, Sean and Leigh Anne would be named as my “legal conservators.”_ Later in that same paragraph he says: _"My mother was supportive of the whole thing and there wasn’t a whole lot of emotion all around because it was just a matter of formalizing the way _*_we’d all been living for the past year._*_ "_ So here he is in the summer before his senior year, signing the conservatorship and claiming TWICE in the same paragraph that he had practically been living with them for a year at that point. Get over it. He was NOT some hot D1 prospect when they took him in.

[@user-jg2zo4nj6s]

Or more likely in prison or dead...!!!

[@australiamak2488]

Interesting take. If I raised my child and they became wealthy. I would be very proud and I wouldn't expect money from them. I would expect their love and respect. Similarly with an adopted child. It's not a financial investment that I expect dividends from. Interestingly enough today a report has concluded the conservatorship must be ended. The judge stated she has never seen one made in these circumstances. It begs the question; did they do this out of the goodness of their hearts ?

[@nyjetsbaby8117]

Blindside to Blindsided. 💔

[@MiaKaiser9]

you mean Tuohy family is blindsided right?

[@nyjetsbaby8117]

@@MiaKaiser9 it's all sinful for sure.

[@DeeDaKaang1]

I always knew that there wasn't any way in the world that they'd take in this huge blk kid just for fun that probably trippled their grocery, clothing, and private school fees.....He really needs to write 📝 his own movie & tell the true story of his life. "Until the 🦁 lion learns to write the hunter is always the hero".

[@nolanpolansky]

Lol the way you wrote that is so matter of fact, but funny. That is a big boyo there, there kitchen pantry definitely needed doubled plus families like that eat out a lot they have to take him too. Plus culturally they behave and act different, old money vs hoodrats don't mix well living together not even being racist here. New money maybe but dude never flew on a plane or drove a rental or stayed at the 4 seasons or ordered at a restaurant costing 70 dollars per person.

[@user-zz1xr6my3w]

Well they were already rich...if anything comes out of this it needs to be that the Touy family should have a job with an NFL team as scouts if they knew he was going to make it at 16 years old lmao

[@DeeDaKaang1]

@@user-zz1xr6my3w He was actually almost 18 & remember the scene when Patrick Ramsey says he was already bigger than all / most of his NFL teammates???

[@user-zz1xr6my3w]

@@DeeDaKaang1 no they took him in when he was 16. And just because he's big doesn't mean he's going to the NFL 🤣🤣

[@covertpuppytwo3857]

He wrote 2 books already!!!

[@richardcoreno]

Michael Lewis made an incredible jackass statement about Michael Oher's college classwork that has resurfaced: “Google him now, he’s on the dean’s list at Ole Miss, which says a lot about the dean’s list at Ole Miss.”.

[@Primenumber19]

They Britney speared him

[@michaelschaefer1904]

Complete bunk. They didn't need the money. They recently made two hundred million dollars on franchise sales. He's just pulling an Al sharpton.

[@Primenumber19]

@@michaelschaefer1904 they admitted they had him sign a conservatorship and got a cut of profits from the film. He’s also a millionaire by the way.

[@jamessmith7909]

This really doesn't need Sherlock Holmes to figure out. If adopted, paperwork will have been filed with state and they should have copy. Even the conservatorship was supposed to end at age 25. If they have been giving him $ - where are the receipts?

[@glennsatterfield1755]

Well by the Father Tuohy own words the conservatorship is still in place. Because he said he would be willing to end it.

[@jamessmith7909]

@@glennsatterfield1755 That's the problem-there wasn't supposed to be one in the first place. Also-it should of ended when he reached the age of 25.

[@glennsatterfield1755]

@jamessmith7909 I agree. Nobody knows what's in someone's else heart. They could have really been sincere in wanting to help. They've came out and said they did a conservatorship because he was 18 and too old to be adopted. But my question is why then do it. What did conservatorship allow you to do that you wouldn't have been able to do outside of having control of his financial affairs? It's plenty of athletes who had families help them without adopting or doing a conservatorship. Letting them live with the family and providing a family atmosphere. So I just don't understand once you saw that adopting him wasn't possible. Then why the conservatorship since it doesn't make him a family member anyway. Like I can't think of an answer that doesn't sound like they were doing what Oher said.

[@jamessmith7909]

@@glennsatterfield1755 That's interesting! If he was already 18 and they couldn't adopt him, why lie to him and everyone else about it? Also, it's not like a Britney situation were her family at first may really have had her best interest at heart and as the years went on the situation went sideways. I agree with you, something about this just doesn't add up, on several levels. If I was Oher, i'd seriously look into whomever was handling his finances (someone should of caught this earlier.)

[@porterwake3898]

Patience James, the receipts are coming and it will be shown that Oher is a bad person. Guaranteed.

[@abbe1abbe156]

Does anyone unnderstand what a conservatorshp is? That's why he's in court to end iit.

[@michaelschaefer1904]

Not all are the same. This is not even close to Britney Spears situation.

[@jackjohnson8244]

@@michaelschaefer1904 It's worse. These thieves aren't even his family.

[@covertpuppytwo3857]

NONSENSE... did you miss the part of the lawsuit where he is trying to extract MONEY from the family? You don't need a 16page lawsuit to simply end a conservatorship. Try and use some common sense!

[@abbe1abbe156]

@@covertpuppytwo3857 Let us know how the conservatorship works once you sign the papers.

[@AT-gu8by]

@@covertpuppytwo3857 That’s what the family claim, Micheal made a petition to the court to end the Conservatorship, which they have agreed to.

[@chuck9380]

“My mother was going to be at the hearing to agree that she supported the decision to have the Tuohys listed as my next of kin and legal conservators,” he wrote. “My mother was supportive of the whole thing and there wasn’t a whole lot of emotion all around because it was just a matter of formalizing the way we’d been living for the past year.” - Michael Oher in his own memoirs

[@Bruss813]

He thought it made him adopted. Turned out they made uim sign away his rights to his name image and likeness.

[@Bruss813]

1:51 she's talking about adoption

[@carlosdavadi8276]

No one over 18 can be legally adopted … if he didn’t understand that, or couldn’t understand, then this conservatorship was the right thing for him. Why would he be upset about the conservatorship of it was enough to get him into Ole Miss but then say he was tricked about the adoption? He thinks he’s entitled to be one of the Tuoys. Now if it comes out that the family did make money aside from $14,000 each from the author whom wrote the story that led to the movie, then maybe he has a case. But why now many years later after he’s made $33 mil? This look is bad for him. I believe someone has got to his ear and he’s trying to extort some good Christian folks.

[@TehKaiser]

@@carlosdavadi8276 You have any citations "no one over 18 can be adopted"? Because the Washington University Law Quarterly review of adoption in 1972 stated that 44 states at the time allowed adult adoptions, and Tennessee was one of them. And it certainly is legal in TN right now, and thus the Tuohys can initiate adoption of him right now.

[@steve6631]

​@Bruss813 so exactly how much money did they take from him? How much money did they give him while he lived with them and while he was going to college?

[@cowboy7271]

They been doing this since day one always looking for a way to get over and take over.

[@carlosserrano9481]

I dont think they never helped him, its obvious that they helped him but to lie about adopting him...that is f'd up

[@covertpuppytwo3857]

Because you need actual legal adoption papers to say you adopted someone to be part of your family?!?!?!?!?!? OK...

[@The-Man-Right-Chea]

Remember the reason they turned around is because he was a big time recruit who was walking home. They already knew he was going to be a big time Division one recruit. So they didn't just stop to help any random poor kid off the streets 😮

[@davecheng4201]

So you can tell some random person on the side of the road is a world class football player and athlete?

[@The-Man-Right-Chea]

@davecheng4201 He attended the school of their kids and was the big man on campus. The daughter and son knew exactly who he was so when they saw him walking home they told their mom that's Big Mike

[@antione]

​@@davecheng4201they said it from their own mouths, did you not listen or read any of their transcripts?

[@generalgrievous9947]

​@davecheng4201 you gonna act like a big time highschool recruit isn't recognizable to boosters of an SEC program? 😂😂

[@michaelschaefer1904]

Except he didn't have the grades qualify. They paid for full-time tutor for 6 years. All it takes is one fluke injury and that so-called investment is gone. Please wait until the real facts come out.

[@kevinskiles2033]

Nobody will know anything till all the financial records come out.

[@aleksilepisto7282]

Fishy. His 2011 book says he knew he was in a conservatorship. He just released a new book a week ago, and is on a press tour. The timing is…interesting. The family is loaded, far more than Michael is. A lot doesn’t make sense.

[@Chief-Solarize]

Im so thankful that Michael Oher has gone public about his family that loved him. It just goes to show you that it dont matter how much you love bleeps and try to help them, theyll eventually turn on you.

[@pwallace5359]

Yes, we helped a black friend of our son. He lived with us for many months because his mom was on crack and living in a storage building. We fed and clothed him even though we were having a hard time ourselves. We, helped him like he was our own. . He thanked us by bullying our son and bringing several of his black friend in to threaten to beat him. He smoked pot in our home and broke every rule we had . He turned out to be a vicious little punk. We eventually had to move our son to a new school. . He hurt our whole family and I regret helping him. No good deed goes unpunished . His ended up quitting school and his mother died of a drug overdose.

[@Angel-fl2wz]

Turn on them. Do you even understand what has happened? They told him he was being adopted but instead had him sign paperwork for them to take Conservatorship over him. If you don’t know what that means let me explain it for you: Conservatorship mean a person has legal authority to manage your finances because you are a minor or deem incapacitated by a court of law. Michael was neither! He was 18 years old when the papers were signed and he was 23 years old when the move Blind Side was released. So in other words this means since your parents raised you does that mean they get to control your finances your whole life? That doesn’t make any sense. And IF he is their so called son to begin with as they claim why does he have to pay them back?

[@Angel-fl2wz]

@@pwallace5359you are a racist. I don’t believe anything you wrote. Why does it have to be black?? You helped a kid. Not a black kid. You racist

[@harrynutzach307]

@@Angel-fl2wz He CLAIMS they told him it was just like an adoption. They CLAIM that they *never* told him that. They say they always used the term "legal guardians" just like it does in the movie. Neither side can prove what words were used back in 2004. Why do you blindly believe that his story is the true one? They *never* controlled his finances. The kind of conservatorship they had with him never gave them any power to do that.

[@lkllmd50]

@@Angel-fl2wz If you watch the movie they said in the movie they were not going to adopt him. I think they said he was almost 18. If they done anything with his finances he would have known it by now. He didn’t have his own money until he graduated college.

[@bradleyscott9462]

Another example of Millions of dollars not being enough, gotta have more...

[@ANTZPound4Pound]

This is A travesty! HEARTBREAKING as well! Guess who's not coming to Thanksgiving Dinner! 🦃

[@Hrithmus]

I hear he needs money and suffering maybe from CTE. The family lawyer basically said this. So who knows what’s really going on.

[@karlmonet]

You heard? That's enough for me.

[@theescapetrix]

​@@karlmonet😂😂😂😂

[@jorad4887]

there are 3 factors working simultaneously against Oher, his memoir that states in his own words that he knew he was under conservatorship (as a shield to protect him from his cocaine addicted mother, his 11 siblings and his father that he does not know from coming to sue him), 2- why at the age of 37 yo to read the court documents? why you wait so long? 3- Oher was present with the attorney with the twoys that under conservatorship he was able to play football under the Tennessee law and it was spelled out in court documents that he SIGNED. This is the critical part is that he signed the papers and if you know the law whatever you sign you understood what you are doing, except if you're a woman claiming under duress from signing a pre-nup which is all BS but that's for another time.

[@lkllmd50]

In the movie they said they were not adopting him. Why do they keep saying that? The movie said his guardian. Maybe he realized not being adopted he may not be in the Will of this really rich family

[@sils583]

If it werent for them he wouldn't be where hes at Right Now!! He is so ungrateful and disgraceful!! Sad...Not Good Micheal!! Who thaught that sueing these people was a good idea?? Shame on You!!

[@DidiLassen]

Something does not quite add up. Michael Lewis was the author of the blind side so he must have been the one selling the book to become a movie. What deals were made and not made with him I have no clue. But he was the author of the book. And in general the author gets 2 to 3 %. So my best guess is that the author earned most of the money from the sale of the book... But time will tell.

[@karlmonet]

A little smelly that he was also a childhood friend of Sean Tuohy.

[@covertpuppytwo3857]

This has already been reported by ESPN. The profit from the book went to each family member. Each member received $14K including Michael. The movie studio then wanted the rights to make the movie. The Tuohy family had legal reps to make the deal. The Tuohy family not including Michael received $225K and 2.5% of the net profit. The $225K up front did not going in their bank accounts but instead to their choice of charity. To date, each family member has received between $60 to $70K in profit residual. Now Michael himself used his own business agent to negotiate with the movie studio and in that deal that Michael himself signed; he doesn't get any residual percentage... he made nothing. Michael today says he doesn't remember signing the agreement but that is the reason why Michael is suing the family instead of the Movie Studio and it was the Movie Studio that made MILLIONS!!!!

[@karlmonet]

Finally someone on the inside who knows every particular and every fact. Internet sleuth gold star.@@covertpuppytwo3857

[@joshscharf4230]

​@@covertpuppytwo3857you should put this on a post alone so people can see it

[@PastarocketS-sb7nk]

If they can PROVE that they gave him his fair share then I would have to say that he shouldn't be doing what he's hired lawyers to do. He probably would never have gone to college and NFL without their kindness and help when he was a teen. If they got money from movie and didn't share it with him then that's a whole different ballgame. If that's the case, then they should have told him that even though he was getting drafted and about to make major coin. He could have negotiated with them and this wouldn't be happening now. This will surely ruin any relationship with them. Sad but true .😔

[@abbe1abbe156]

He wants the conservayorshiip to end. That's why he iis in court.

[@jackjohnson8244]

You don't think it's suspicious that they set up a conservatorship?

[@PastarocketS-sb7nk]

@jackjohnson8244 You don't think that its suspicious that he didn't say anything until he retired? They could have brokered deals during his NFL career, but they didn't.

[@bmxbobby1]

​@jackjohnson8244 he was 18 at time..Too old to adopt in Tennessee

[@markjackson6431]

@@PastarocketS-sb7nk how do you know they didn’t? why do you keep acting like the NFL is this moneymaker when their athletes make less money than a baseball or basketball player. and the NFL money isn’t guaranteed. and you have a 10 year window lol

[@goldengrain9851]

Let's try it like this if Michael didn't receive his checks from the family, well who did? This is a Spears situation.

[@michaelschaefer1904]

Apples and oranges.

[@covertpuppytwo3857]

Let's try it like this... Who actually made the vast majority of money from the movie... the Tuohy family or the movie studio that produced it? It was the movie studio. So, ask yourself, why then doesn't Michael sue the movie studio? I'll tell you why... because Michael himself negotiated with the movie studio and the not the Tuohy family. Michael doesn't even deny he signed away his right from residual profits from the money.

[@expectmore-]

Blindsided 2 coming to theatres in 2024 🎥🍿

[@nyjetsbaby8117]

Fraudside.

[@bradg5000]

The Dad looks just like Tim McGraw lol

[@striderman-]

Kinda messed up for youtube to be recommending the blind side movie to me on this video 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@kickingass62]

This doesn't seem to be a story of a family taking in a kid just out of the goodness of their heart, it seems it was more a story of an Ole Miss booster taking in a top recruit for his senior year to get him to Ole Miss. I ask myself if they would have taken him in if he had 0 athletic talent and I honestly don't think they would have.

[@gtsound12]

Exactly!

[@TheGodfather101]

When is it ever that? Let's be real. Human beings don't do anything without some self interest. Mutual interest preferred. But self interest required.

[@JakeFrenklah]

a top recruit? this guy was homeless why can't people do nice things anymore without being questioned

[@bonp6731]

@@JakeFrenklahgo read his book

[@AllGameLife355]

​@@JakeFrenklahhe was an All-American before he started living with them. So yes. Top recruit

[@robwyyi]

Look at what Tuohy did with fast food franchise. They started selling them. So many fast restaurants that most of American probably has eaten at one of theirs. They’ve left millions on the table not holding onto to the chains. So why would they do what he’s claiming. Probably they would’ve settled with him. It’s a publicity stunt by him and Tuohy will get their name in mud.

[@mickhultengren]

Something seems very off on this 😊

[@Hosely1]

Sad just sad

[@nyjetsbaby8117]

Very 💔

[@Tammy-wh7wp]

The tuohys were not millionaires they were still working class people before they met him. Whether they had a taco bell franchise or two did not mean they were millionaires. Once they received money from his life story they could turn the franchises over they could sale them and buy more and promote themselves with shiny jobs such as author, interior decorator, sports athletics assistant, with his money. He WAS not ADOPTED! Oh he was a foster kid?!? You know how foster kids are for the want of a family their emotions played on. Oh yeah they cared about him enough all the way to see him as a mealticket. Turned on him like rattlesnakes when he saw the true circumstance of the matter. After they got paid what is a few thousand dollars compared to their millions. These people ought to be ashamed of their selves. Their own son said they probably had to .write off some money when they gave to charity.

[@TheAzmountaineer]

THEY turned on HIM? I bet you are totally wrong about pretty much everything you just wrote.

[@TheAzmountaineer]

This is a pretty ignorant statement. There was nowhere near that much money involved. Wait until you learn some facts, maybe?

[@216Numbskull]

"Whether the Tuohy's owned 1 or 2 Taco Bell franchises didn't mean they were millionaires." Maybe not IF they only owned 1 or 2 Taco Bell franchises sure. But, they didn't own just 1 or 2 fast-food franchises my friend. Sean Tuohy at one time owned over 100 various fast-food restaurant's that included not only Taco Bell, but also Pizza Hut, KFC & Long John Silver's, etc... Knowing that simple math would tell you that the Tuohy's were worth a few dollars, don't you think? Blah,ha,ha!!! They were & still are worth millions to ever have a need to try to swindle Mike out of any money he earned or was owed. "Get Your Mind Right"

[@Phuongxmai]

The Tuohys is worth $100 million before they met Michael Oher. They split the money from the movie equally 5 ways among the 5 family members.

[@jaybeeeasy]

This is the true story of America.

[@DogDongDotCom]

Tbh the Michael Oher movie without adopted well off white parents would be a pretty boring and unsuccessful movie. A poor black kid from a bad area with terrible parents is not a movie we haven’t seen

[@6thwilbury2331]

Net points, folks, net points. Yes, Oher should be eligible for whatever residuals the Tuohys earn from the movie, but it won't be millions.

[@Highrockman]

ESPN please do your research!! read Michale Oher's own book (2011).. Where he details the knowledge of the conservatorship..Plus the idea that the Tuophys took Michale in to profit off him is simply preposterous..Michael was penniless and needed a tutor (Paid for by the Trophy's) and a home ( Trophy's invited him into their home) and fed him and clothed him ( who paid for his tuition..lunches at school, uniforms etc) . Michael was a product of a terribly broken home environment and with out the grace of god and the Trophy's who knows what would have happened to Michale..The idea that the Trophy's did all this to profit from Michael is a joke and ESPN should apologize to the Tuophy family for running this obviously pro Oher expose with out doing an ounce of research!

[@michelletrimmer7431]

Geez. This family assisted him in his life when he had nobody and this is how he has chosen to repay them. Shame on him. At the end of this, Michael Oher, will look like a selfish fool. He will be alone. Dumb.

[@castlerock58]

We know from the Spears case that a person under conservatorship can't even hire a lawyers unless a court waves parts of the conservatorship. How did Oher even file this lawsuit and sign his NFL contracts unless the court already waved the most important parts of his conservatorship?

[@aldoabruzzi6417]

That conservatorship has been completely inactive and gathering dust since Michael Oher graduated from Ole Miss. Makes perfect sense why they forgot all about it...

[@kevinmcnab5670]

It doesnt really add up though. Correct me if im wrong but them being hos conservators would mean that they would have had to sign off on every contract he ever signed yet he and his lawyers, agents, accountants and financial advisors werent aware of his sitution until this year?

[@aleksilepisto7282]

His book released a decade ago said he knew he was in a conservatorship.

[@kevinmcnab5670]

@@aleksilepisto7282 I don't think he's saying that he didn't know it was a conservatorship but rather he didn't know what that meant but that doesn't make sense either.

[@davidmartin9816]

Its NOT A LAWSUIT. Right now it is just a petition.

[@beachlover9705]

This doesn't surprise me one bit that they took advantage of him

[@Da_Fonz]

They didn't take advantage of him! The author of the book just disclosed the numbers!

[@JesseSwaney]

They have hundreds of millions of dollars and he thinks they're trying to rob him of a couple hundred thousand!?

[@user-kb2qq7ch7u]

You don’t know what you’re talking about

[@glgl1472]

Family squabbles of the worst our family is going through one right now but a lot of what they're talking about can be easily he was either adopted or he wasn't the money structure there's a paper trail unfortunately the family Dynamics will never be the same but maybe they were never what they were outline to be in the first place time will tell

[@missmiss975]

Very sad. If he were truly your son you would hand over everything to keep him

[@gtsound12]

They would have at least made sure he was paid from the movie like they made sure there kids were paid

[@MtownsGreatest]

So using your logic, if your kid is a drug addict, and he gives you an ultimatum and exploits you for "everything you have", you would just hand it over to him to keep him? Sure, 2 separate scenarios, but the concept is similar. They shouldn't hand over another dime to keep him. He lost that opportunity when he shook them down for $15 million before taking this public. And to the person who responded above. The man WAS PAID from the movie's profits. Yall should do yourselves a favor and wait to cast judgement until the evidence is presented.

[@janad9281]

How can you post an interview without doing any research. Shame on you ESPN.

[@chief8976]

That's cold, that family didn't make a dollar off of bruh and got him to the league now he suing? Am I missing something?

[@jackcall3815]

Seems fishy to me

[@mdb1239]

His book I Beat the Odds talks about his conservatorship. Michael Oher discusses his conservatorship in his own book. I wonder why the relationship soured? How does a loving family relationship turn into an enemy relationship?

[@glennwatson3313]

Money.

[@johnbeechy]

review their Tax returns. find out how much they reported for their part in the movie.

[@user-jg2zo4nj6s]

Shame on you michael oher, I do not believe for one millisecond that the family that took you in and supported you along with gave you a solid and loving foundation to grow and thriving from EVER once had it in thier mind or heart to protitu off of you in ANY way BUT instead ONLY wanted you to become the best possible michael oher that you could be.. AGAIN, SHAME, SHAME, AND SHAME AGAIN ON YOU.. I. Pray God clear your head of EVIL and negative thought and that you realize jyst how incredibalky BLESSED YOU WERE TO HAVE THEM THERE FOR YOU...!!!

[@MrNaturalSez]

Once again let no good deed go unpunished.

[@tatianalyulkin410]

I'm not concerned about money. Never had any- never will. But for those who don't understand the difference between an adoption and a conservatorship please imagine this - God forbid Mike's adoptive mom is seriously ill. Mike feels like his heart is about to stop, jumps into his fancy car and drives to the hospital. And the worst nightmare that we- as multiracials, multinationals- have to deal with every single day. He's stopped at the door to his mother's private room. " Sir, you cannot go in. Only family members are allowed to see the patient. " Now adoption means that Mike can turn to that nurse and say, " Miss, I am her son. Get out of my way. " Conservatorship gives you no such rights. It's purely a business arrangement- like being somebody's representative payee. Yes, Nicholas Sutton protects my interests and watches over me like a hawk- but believe me, I would give my right hand for him to be my brother. But life is ... and he's not. He's my representative payee.

[@teriscott685]

This is fishy,he signed NFL contracts

[@glennwatson3313]

The apple does not fall far from the tree.

[@mikewilliams3509]

Now if it turns out this family helped mike out and actually gave him money thats gonna be crazy..

[@user-kb2qq7ch7u]

That’s not how it turned out

[@WFPN]

The only clear foul is if he has not received mobey from the $300M film

[@EliteMoments916]

$300M. Off of a lie ?????

[@poet4727]

Question is what did they GIVE HIM! This is so sad to read. Why now Michael?????

[@aznnp77]

The numbers are out. The lawyer for the family has shared them. The entire family made $700,000 in total from the movie, and they split it evenly. That's about $140K each. But apparently Oher turned down his share. They don't say why, but I could absolutely see why he would turn it down. He often criticizes the movie for misrepresenting his life, so why would he take their money when he has millions of dollars? But if he had millions of dollars, why is he suing his parents for a couple hundred grand?

[@karlmonet]

"The numbers are out. The lawyer for the family has shared them" LOLOL Have you ever dealt with lawyers?

[@aznnp77]

@@karlmonet I don't think a lawyer would willingly put them out there so soon if it weren't true. Where are Oher's numbers he's so sure of? Pardon me if I don't have sympathy for a guy that has made $34M in career salary and is suing a family that took him off the streets for a couple hundred grand. It's a civil lawsuit, so the money amount he's suing for is known.

[@aznnp77]

@@karlmonet What would you say if the text actually comes out where Oher threatens to go public if they don't pay him $15M? I'm not expert, but I seriously doubt a movie that made $300M, they'd give $15M to the people it was based on. And even if they did give 5% of total sales, which is unlikely, does Oher really deserve 100% of it. Like he was the only one portrayed in the movie?

[@nelkfullsend]

@@aznnp77 He wasnt on the street. He was living with a different family in a foster home

[@nelkfullsend]

@@aznnp77 Yes him going public for money they owed him sounds reasonable to most people

[@sharonjones5008]

I don't know what to believe I do know if they took advantage of that black man when he was younger the truth will come out it always does.

[@samson3026]

It's the Tuohy's fault...they should have never helped him. It's proof, you can give them everything and it won't be enough. Michael is pathetic!

[@jordanmc9015]

Should have let him walk home.

[@shanecydrus6591]

Damm, Mina Kimes really let herself go. Must be in 4k quality.

[@user-uh1li4ni2n]

What a joke if it were not for the Tuohy family Oher would have never been in the NFL. I think he is low on MONEY!!!!!!!!

[@999WRLDGAMING.]

He has a net worth of 16 million I think he's fine. He just wondered why he never got anything from the money. You don't know that. He was already in a private school because another family was helping him. Just cause they helped him doesn't mean they were entitled to anything. Or maybe you're the type to only help someone if you can benefit from it

[@MikeBrowning-bm5gw]

So until earlier this year, no one knew NOTHING, GTFO😎😎😎😎

[@DogDongDotCom]

Translation: After no longer collecting a NFL check he realized he wasn’t adopted.

[@Pfs709]

They had the money now they needed the glory and Mike gave them glory and more money . Sandra Bullock and Tim McGrath perfected their image and enhanced their image. Leann does not look someone what Sandra have portrayed . I think we are all duped . Do I have a case .

[@aldoabruzzi6417]

No... you don't have a case. Glory? When Sean Tuohy first met him while they both watched the varsity basketball team, he was a sophomore. Briarcrest still wasn't allowing him to play ANY sports until he brought his grades up, so Sean had NO idea if he was even athletic. Talking to him, he got the feeling that the kid was probably going hungry. The next day he opened a lunch account for him and paid for it for the next 3 years. So in your fantasy world, Sean took one look at him and thought: - IF this kid is an athlete and - IF this kid plays football and - IF he's amazing and - IF Ole Miss makes him an offer and - IF we can bring his horrible grades up - THEN he can play for my Alma Mater... THREE YEARS from now - Then I can get my old pal Michael Lewis to write a book about it and - IF the book is a best-seller and - IF Hollywood wants to make a film about Mike's book *THAT will be great for our image!!* Do you people even *hear yourselves* ?

[@user-nl1wy7yf9v]

What a shame Michael Fletcher is reporting incorrect facts. Shame on him for not telling both sides correctly

[@purpleaki7135]

Is it a "lawsuit" or petition to end the conservatorship.

[@braintrustjr.5363]

This is just gross 🤮 all the way around. To much!!

[@nitawilliams4533]

This is not about money. This is about heartbreak and betrayal. People focusing on the dollars are ignoring that he was a teenager who fell in love with a so- called loving family. This is a rotten case of man's inhumanity to man. Ohr is not a career, he is not a jock, he is a human being who was duped. By the way, according to the accounts, he lived with them a year and during his lucrative football career he gave back to the scamming family, even buying his fake brother a car. Stop automatically downplaying his righteous pain by focusing on economics. This Black man was a child. The child in him feels BETRAYED.

[@carbebcarbeb8335]

Absolutely. It is about the break of trust.

[@abelliott89]

I think the true scam was not being properly adopted. It has to hurt to find out that the people you considered your new, legal parents did not put you on the same level as their biological children (ie those whom you considered your siblings). A son doesn't sue his parents out of greed but rather, pain.

[@nitawilliams4533]

@@abelliott89 Exactly!

[@glennwatson3313]

He can feel however he likes but the facts say he was not betrayed.

[@edwardbietsch993]

It's been stated Oher was famous NFL PLAYER without the movie, BS. HE was one of the worst graded tackles in the NFL. WITHOUT THE movie very few would know who he was, maybe the fans of the team he played for.

[@jenniferb3266]

Why did it take Mr. Oher 20 years to figure out he wasn't adopted? Most people know much quicker.

[@timt2110]

If u watched the video. He hired investigators and found about convertorship this year.

[@Pfs709]

I am with Mike . Sandra bullock perfected T family image, 0:39 and business image. Yet they put Mike into conservatorship . Leanne does not look like someone is kind and generous . She is more look like an ambitious snub.

[@ebkpostosmokaayt8676]

I believe Micheal but how you not notice that you aint get payed for your stuff in 20 years

[@oddjobbob8742]

In order to keep my ability to post comments from being suspended, please read the following: Warning: if you’re a person of thin skin and easily hurt sensitivities you should not read the following comment. Nothing in the following comment is bullying, intimidating, shaming or harassing. But, if you’re a person of thin skin and easily hurt sensitivities you may think the following comment is bullying, intimidating, shaming or harassing. If you read on, please know, any sense of bullying, intimidating shaming or harassing is in you, not in the comment. If you feel bullied, intimidated, shamed or harassed, I would point you to Leonard’s Mother’s advice in Big Bang Theory: “Buck up.” And if that isn’t good enough, “Buck up, sissy pants.” Or don’t read on, go to the next comment. Losing your interest doesn’t hurt my feelings. I was a big fan of the Blindside movie. And even more so the book. But I remember thinking Oher is going to be a basic cry baby kneegrow, not any different from Caepernick when he gets older. In the book, towards the end he makes disparaging remarks about the people from his kneegrow past who are hitting him up for money. “What do I owe them,” was his basic comment. And he was correct. He owed those kneegrows nothing. But to so boldly saw it. I imagine the bottom line is Oher is broke and wants more from the Touhy’s than they gave him. I hope they cut him a check for $15 mill. Half will go to the federal government in taxes. 30% will go to his attorneys. The remaining 20% will be pissed away in 2 years and he will be flipping burgers like he would have been had the Touhy’s not picked him out of the gutter where they found him and given him a life. Fortunately, the Touhy’s had the foresight to set up a trust for Oher’s kid. There is a chance that one might be salvaged.

[@chanbalkaran5413]

If it was not 4 this family...he would have been a nobody...ungrateful...instead of being thankful... wow.....God don't like ugliness

[@JohnDoe-kd5wl]

Something smells a little Jussie on this one. Money will ruin any family. Hug those you love.

[@714milky]

The father sold his fast food conglomerate for $200million. So they're not trying to cash him. I will wait till more details are uncovered.....but I don't think the family "used" the kid. If the relationship becomes mutually beneficial....then what's the problem. He made millions in the NFL and the family is wealthy also. Sounds like the young man has the wrong people in his ear. *Edit* isn't Michael Oher in the middle of a book tour? 🤔 🧐

[@chriskay1449]

So? There is no wuch thing as "I have enough money" when greed is involved.

[@714milky]

@@Flowers-777 lol you think Foster parents are just in it for the kids?? They get paid to do it also...but they are also helping a child have a home. What's wrong with that dynamic?

[@714milky]

@@chriskay1449 is there a possibility that Michael Oher is the one that's being greedy? In any scenario? The story from the blind side, what a story of what happened. In fact Sandra Bullock won the award for the portrayal of the mother, point being the everyone SHOULD and DID benefit from the proceeds. That's the reports I have read anyway. IF the parent or "conservators" all split the profits of the film 100% evenly.....then this would be a frivolous accusation.

[@714milky]

@@qaxcgyujm what reason would the family have to explain to YOU or ME for that matter that it is a conservatorship as opposed to an adoption. They don't owe that to anyone. What if they did see him as a son figure....but legally wanted to protect themselves in the case of assets that he then would be entitled to as a legally adopted child?

[@jackjohnson8244]

@@714milky Foster parents who make money from the foster system are stealing from the foster kid and not getting the kid things they are entitled to.

[@orion2250]

Ran out of money did he

[@kitchg5526]

All I can see is the Touhy's have $200 millions not to adopt him

[@ariq1731]

Nobody outside of Oxford knew who this cat was before the movie… both parties acting greedy.. rich people problems..Tuohys worth 75 mill, Oher 16 mill 🥱

[@MrDuds1984]

It was never claimed in the movie nor in the book that they planned or adopted him. Oher claimed this in his 2011 book. With that there is no reason at all they should be his conservator today still.

[@RDC441]

What movie or interview did you obviously not watch and listen to?

[@karlmonet]

?????? You OK? Leigh Anne Tuohy clearly states ADOPTION in interviews.

[@AT-gu8by]

She was everywhere claiming she adopted him.

[@MrDuds1984]

@@AT-gu8by claiming and actually doing it are two different things they never adopted him

[@ckgvafiadis1117]

Michael, you should be totally ashamed of yourself for biting the hand that feeds you, and it's as simple as that.

[@tajmarjackson2930]

Slave, he was enslaved

[@mbarry5861]

Next you’re gonna tell me Rudy wasn’t 100% accurate….

[@michaelschaefer1904]

This movie was way more accurate than Rudy. The football side of the story was intentionally Goofy on various levels. The coach is a fictitious character. His real Coach was an extra and is now the head coach at Auburn.

[@user-ll8mt4so4l]

Movie stated clearly michael was 18 couldn't be adopted. Why is this report lying??

[@DaFactsNoNonsense1713]

He's going to win easily = those people will "lie", but ultimately they're going to owe him TONS of CASH = they better pay him now before it costs them everything they've got

[@mikeclark7026]

He has literally NO chance. Even if we are to believe they lied, that’s not illegal. The only way he’d win is if there was either a paper trail, or he has a way to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt they lied to him about the conservatorship. Now if they made a lot more money from the movie, that may be a different story, but that wouldn’t have to do with anything about the actual thing he is suing for.

[@714milky]

For having the username you do, you might want to have all the facts before you make those assumptions 😂

[@DaFactsNoNonsense1713]

@@714milky got 'em = you should take your own advice + maybe attend school once in your life before pretending you did

[@jackjohnson8244]

@@mikeclark7026 They screwed themselves by promoting that they adopted him, they had it on their websites. So, the truth being that they set up a conservatorship instead of what they have been claiming for years in websites, interviews and books, is proof that they lie.

[@714milky]

​@@DaFactsNoNonsense1713hahahahaha what nonsense are you going on about?? 😂 Aka DaNonsenseNoFacts1713

[@dbalexan]

The conservatorship only benefited one side, I guess he really was the blind side.

[@maximusthemerciful9452]

He’s been out of the league for a while now. He’s broke. No good deed.

[@DavidBagga]

I used to live in LA from 2011-2013 and I remember playing pickup basketball with some extras that were in the blindside movie from 2009 and they were saying some of this stuff back then that they heard. But Oher was already in the league making his own money so it was more casually spoken. He’s got a new book out now so it feels like this is part of him promoting it. Gonna be interesting to see how it all unfolds 👀

[@sirrmanning2769]

Even Michael was saying that the story was false over the years... this is more I believe about him finding how he was Never Adopted. I believe they really hurt his feelings more than anything.

[@chrisper7527]

Yea, they “legally” adopted him into a slave like circumstance where they controlled all his legal affairs. Even when he is an adult. They cashed in on him. They are nefarious in their intent.

[@darnelllewis5984]

Exactly

[@MiaKaiser9]

the family took him from being homeless, helped him with grades so he got into D1 and later earned $34 million. the family never took a penny of $34million. why didnt the family get a cut?

[@JohnDoe-kd5wl]

Something smells a little Jussie.

[@abesilverstein1038]

not true.

[@michaelbrutallyhonest6026]

Stupid as f--k comment. Just ridiculously over the top idiotic.

[@robertkirchiro5183]

A culture of victimhood

[@kinglinus3708]

He knew im sorry he was at a hearing for it.

[@user-zz1xr6my3w]

Long story short, dude blew his money and now he needs more...

[@user-zz1xr6my3w]

@@Flowers-777 yea retired in 2016 so he wasn't making anymore money. Kept spending it like he was when he was playing. 7 years later he's broke. Not that hard to do.

[@jackjohnson8244]

@@user-zz1xr6my3w I wonder why those assumptions are made of him and not the family? Couldn't they have blown through all their money and decided stealing from him was the way to go. Just curious as to what it is that makes that assumption pop into your mind.

[@maximusthemerciful9452]

Yup.

[@maximusthemerciful9452]

@@jackjohnson824480% of retired NFL players go broke within their first three years out of the league.

[@user-zz1xr6my3w]

@@jackjohnson8244 well I guess the first reason would be because he's the one making the accusations. Secondly, are you familiar with the businesses the Tuohy family owns? I'd say they aren't hurting for much. And I guess my last reason for my assumption would be because this is a common thing that happens to professional athletes.

[@strapupboxin]

Absolute Devils