Former NFL offensive lineman primarily of the Baltimore Ravens, Michael Oher, has been released from his conservatorship with the Tuohy family. Shelby County Probate Court Judge Kathleen Gomes said she is terminating the agreement reached in 2004 that controlled Oher’s finances.
Oher was notably the inspiration behind the popular novel turned blockbuster film “The Blind Side.” The film and novel detail Oher’s backstory of homelessness as a teenager, to his journey into professional football. “The Blind Side”, released in 2009, starred Quinton Aaron as Oher, Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw as Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, Kathy Bates, as Miss Sue, and more, is more recently came into question for its accuracy. The film went on to snag several Oscars nominations, earning $300 million in the process.
The former NFL star petitioned a Tennessee court several months ago to escape a conservatorship he was allegedly placed under by the Tuohys. The former NFL star claims that the family never legally adopted him, and instead placed him under a conservatorship so that they could continuously exploit his backstory for their own profit. This legal loophole allowed for the family to make business decisions on Oher’s behalf without his consent.
Oher claimed the couple lied to him and tricked him into signing the document when he was a teenager. ESPN was first to report the details of the court filings.
Social Media Reactions
Fans of Oher and onlookers alike were happy to see Oher regain his financial freedom. The successful NFL player has since retired and married his college girlfriend, with whom he shares four children.
that is amazing. good job judge.
— Brett Murphy (@bmurphypointman) September 29, 2023
Conservatorships were first brought to a new level of awareness in the public eye amid the Free Britney movement.
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Britney Spears was notably placed under her conservatorship in 2008 following a mental health crisis. The legal guardianship format was initially designed for the elderly, and has come to be abused by several powerful individuals.
After Spears’ conservatorship ended in 2021, the public eye turned to similar arrangements. Amid the news of Oher’s conservatorship, fans of the NFL player’s career and the film based on his life are criticizing the Tuohy family for their alleged legal manipulation. In the agreement to end the conservatorship, the former Baltimore Raven has also asked the family to account for any money they made off of his life story.
Awesome- he earned it and deserves it!
— theozz (@davyNAVY1045GMG) September 29, 2023
Elsewhere, others allege that a family friend who was a lawyer assisted in orchestrating the arrangement.
Sports media should be talking more about how it's come out that family from the BlindSide knowingly never intended on adopting Michael Oher, but had him sign a conservatorship, eventhough it wasn't necessary, & had their family lawyer friend orchestrate it.
— I'm Back on Swine (@BluntStatement) September 20, 2023
Oher is yet to speak directly on the court’s end of his agreement with the Tuohys.
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