What Really Happened To Michael Oher From The Blind Side? (Why He Hated His Own Movie)
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- Опубліковано 10 жов 2022
- Sponsored by Factor. Use code FLEMLO60 to get 60% off your first Factor box at bit.ly/3UMX9uU For years it's been reported that Michael Oher... Super Bowl Champion and inspiration for the award winning "The Blind Side" movie, actually hates the film. Today we go through and tell a version of his story, all while attempting to understand his dislike of the film. Only MIchael can tell his story 100% accurately, so please understand this is only my interpretation of his story based on interviews, articles, ect...
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Your effort to clearly differentiate between the parts that are fact and opinions/speculation is phenomenal. Not even to mention how much the production quality, editing, and research have improved over the years despite starting from a great place already. These videos not only make my day better but add bits of wisdom I can use in my life without fail.
I agree wholeheartedly
From your lips to my heart, bro.
Couldn't agree more or have said it any better!
Right?!? Accountability is a woman kryptonite!! Never understood why they have soo many kids when they can’t even take care of themselves., it’s so selfish and irresponsible!
@@SiNsCere1100
"Accountability is a woman's kryptonite?"
The hell is wrong with you? You seriously need a smack upside your head.
I was a child of the crack epidemic being 45 now and i spent many nights sleeping in my dogs house. My parents totally denied how bad it was until the day they died so her attitude isnt uncommon.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
The crack era honestly destroyed a generation
Tbh I didn't like how someone having 12 kids by multiple different fathers is called a victim I more or less and watching something else instead of the rest of this video because I love Flemlo Raps but that's BS. 3 kids is the max amount of oops babies one is permitted 12, is almost satirical.
It's unfortunate that you had to go through that. I hope life has been kinder too you since then. I hope you've found some happiness because you didn't deserve to be treated that way and it's not your fault that it happened.
I was a child of the heron epidemic and im still injecting it til this day, i stay high all the time im on that good shit
At some point having 12 kids without any fathers around is her fault. Not a victim. She may be a victim of the drug epidemic. But she needs to also take accountability of creating a hard situation for herself
I agree.
This here. Not to put anything on her name but she was hoeing out and year-by-year the looks started to fade so the dudes she thought would settle down skipped to the next hoe.
She put her kids in this situation and didn't think twice about it
Right she’s not just a victim. She put her self in a situation she could no longer handle. That’s still her fault though and turning to drugs is the worst option
Facts
I feel the same way about all the people addicted to meth
I played against Big Mike in high school, college, and the NFL. I’ve been familiar with him since he was in middle school as he was one of the players our coaches really wanted on our high school team. From a first hand account he was NEVER dumb, or not good at football! It was obvious he would be an exceptional player from the time he started playing! He was well known in Memphis even in middle school for his size, athleticism, and field I.Q.! When I first saw this movie it pissed ME off! Because I know how hard dude worked to be the best, even when he had no one to push him! I know how hard he worked in school to keep his grades in check in spite of his circumstances! And they go and portray him in a movie as dumb, unmotivated, and soft! All to push that “white savior” narrative. I’m sure Mike is thankful for the Tuohy family (pronounced Too-ee) but they’ll even tell you that Mike was already talented and smart when they took him in! I’m a big fan of football movies and til this day “The Blind Side” ranks last on my list for trying to portray someone that I’ve always respected as a player as helpless until he meets his white super hero! I wish Hollywood would kill that white savior complex and tell the stories with accuracy! Because Mike’s real story is even more interesting!
Racist at all?
@@bradwatson5148 not at all. White writers need to be called out for this behavior.
@@bradwatson5148 its not an uncommon hollywood trope though so he's not wrong.
LaRon Moore Well stated in terms of an accurate assessment. I wholeheartedly share your sentiments…
@@bradwatson5148 how is that racist
The fact that the people you make videos on call you out for getting it right says everything that you need to know about this channel. This man does his homework, and he’s respectful/ respected .
Love your work FlemLo!!!
Yeah , but don't it seem like he "cashing in" on the Tuhoy'?s They are still worth more than Oher's career earnings and he is trying to get a cash out for a book and movie deal? Seems like he couldve handled this behind the scenes ..but , I guess we have to set the record straight?
@@SuperOmnicronsj44oher is obviously trying to extort and strong arm the family that took him in for money cause he’s either going broke or is broke and thinks he’s owed money.
"Based on a true story" means it is NOT a documentary. They take the premise and write a script to make you laugh and cry and condense it into 2 hours of entertainment. Main characters who lived those events each have a story from their own perspective.
Thanks for this. You explained and answered some questions I had. Especially around his signing over his rights to Fox . Didn't realize he was still in college at the time and would have really sent the NCAA after him.
This is why I don’t watch these kind of movies anymore I want 100% the truth
No such thing in any movie
Age like fine wine 🍷 there should be a update
Leaving a two year old and a one year old alone for 2 days is atrocious. Baby was prolly literally crying for 2 days straight smh. His mom deft was not a victim when she chose to do that. 💯
preach
Sadly the children were pawns for the mom to get welfare benefits. Why have more kids when you can't properly raise the first 6 that you had? Credit to this guy for digging himself out of this hole and make something of his life
His Mom was an addict. Addicts don’t think normally. You gotta understand it’s not normal thinking and a normal decision from a normal person. Yeah she has to be responsible for it but it’s the addiction creating this rift
Not that simple bro. Everyone is different and vulnerable to different vices
@Jordan Hughes can’t say don’t do drugs when the government was the people putting it in our communities you either uneducated on the war on drugs or not black either way saying just don’t do drugs is ignorant she’s human and guess wat we are far from perfect crack is one the most addictive drug out there bud
Bro, I love how you tell the story...all the stories, with an honest and sympathetic narrative. You have a beautiful soul. All the horrible subjects you deal with, you tell the story in a non-biased, fact based way, covering all sides of it. I have so much respect for you as an author( you are writing stories, autobiographical stories) and more importantly as a Man, a Family Man at that. I hope you are or will be a parent. Men and Women like you need to be parents. We need so many more people with your code and ethics. I will pray for you and your Family. I also Thank God for people like the ones who raised you. Sincerely, Michael Lengieza
Great journalism on this one sir. You did a fair job looking at all the angles of the story. You did not paint folks as villains and gave us more depth and clarity. Your content as always is a joy to watch.
With the news that just came out, we need a part 2!!! Hell, I see why they chose to portray him as dumb. They were getting over on him the whole time 😭
It’s the typical white American way👍🏽
Yeah, Femlo needs to revisit and revise some of his takes here. Michael was placed into a conservatorship at 18 that basically took all his autonomy and gave it to the Touys. Just to make sure they could control what college he went to and get paid off of it. Then they quietly kept him in that conservatorship which allowed them to sign away his life rights and each get paid off. This is Get Out irl.
He's ALREADY on it .. I'm about to watch
Leaping to conclusions with no evidence whatsoever is "dumb". You don't know ANYTHING right now.
They didn’t need his chump change!!! 😂 wake up!! You sleeping.
Flemlo raps always makes my day better because he always puts it in perspective that these sports player have it rough or do stupid stuff and he try’s to teach us lessons about what not to do 🤝
Hands down best sport journalist period
💯💯💯
@@FlemLoRaps somebody is hacking you account. They just sent me something saying it was you that I won something to massage them back. Pretending it's you bro check into that. It's on this same video on my reply Chucky365
Flemlo is human straight up, we need more examples like you in our world.
Yeah, its a great channel. Most football channels cut players down for nothing. Not here.
That's that Mississippi in him..
This is a great way to explain him in his videos. Dude knows how to connect with the average guy
@J Day is not for no reason. Think about it, do they down other sports players? Like MLB or hockey? Nope just NFL and NBA
Is he your daddy?
I just watched the movie for the second time. Anyone who has any analytical skills, can realize that he was not portrayed as dumb but rather as someone who lacked stimulation, consistency, structure and education growing up. He did not seem “dumb” to me whatsoever. He also seemed shy and uncomfortable but as the movie went by, he seemed more confident and talkative. I am sure there are inaccurate details in the movie to make it more “appealing” to the audience. It’d been good to add real life facts about him, to enrich his character. On another note, Michael’s mom was a victim of the system but she also neglected her kids. Make no mistake, she was definitely not a good mom! There’s no other way around it. He did reach far and beat the odds, even when he’s still battling his demons.
They portrayed him as an academically deficient student, period.
Btw, my analytical skills are well above average. I would have to LOSE 40 IQ points to be considered “smart.”
@@DeCurtaRican He had a GPA of 0.06. I'd say that's an academically deficient student, period.
@@DeCurtaRicanacademically deficient doesn’t mean dumb though it shows he lacked any actual instruction for his entire life if anything it shows he is quite smart with how quickly he picked up subjects and concepts as soon as he was given the chance to learn you can be the most intelligent person in the world but intelligence and knowledge are very different things he need to receive that knowledge which he did quickly showing his true intelligence
I'm from Memphis and Michael Ohers story was a inspiration as someone in the hood trying to make it playing football . Great work flemlo
Wise words booty snorkler. Keep it up
Booty Snorkeler ...what a screen name 😆😂
@@MrTee12 Memphis people know how to roast for sure. Thats one hell of a screen name lmao
Shit I robbed a lotta the big dudes in Memphis. Had hoe gotti stripping taking his jewels off. We hit a mean kick on em
@@officialjeremiahblake You’ll get roasted none stop out here. Better not be ugly. You better have some swag 🤣🤷🏾♂️
Well this video aged like fine wine.
I never looked at it that way, I always looked at him overcoming a horrible situation and just getting some good help along the way.
Victim mentality
We were wrong! 😮
Good help? They made it seem like he was too stupid to block for his qb. That white savior complex is trash.
@@eliasarmas3412 you ain't lying bro!
he had a 6yr old best friend.
You dropped the Boobie Miles story (which a Texas boy can really appreciate) then you follow up with this. You’ve been doing this for so long and to still be managing to get better is amazing. Keep grinding Flem 🫡
Dudes been making good stuff for a minute.. we definitely appreciate it.. 🙂👍
Idk how I found this page like 2 years ago. But I just love your dedication and how you give objective view points to all your videos. It shows you care and not, just putting things out for views. I really appreciate your videos. Keep up the great work.
Yet another homerun FlemLo. You present stories in such a human way, that you give a unique perspective on extremely complex issues. Thank you.
We all know what the blindside movie really was besides oscar bait, there's one released every few years. The minute Sandra Bullock got on that field and started teaching him how to block, I knew that there was no possible way this was going to be an accurate portrayal of what happened to this young man.
Except for a few incredibly minor details it was very accurate. There is no such thing as a real life story told through film that gets anywhere near 100% accuracy. If you feel like they made Oher look stupid than I’d hope you feel the same about how they portrayed one of the most successful college football coaches in modern times. It’s a movie, not a documentary.
@@nicolasthecaged4940 You completely missed the point of why I picked that specific scene to criticize. Of course movies are embellished for entertainment's sake but that isn't why I knew this movie wouldn't be an accurate depiction. Think about why I said this same exact movie comes out every few years.
Funny, I’ve never seen a different movie where Sandra bullock teaches someone how to block. So, what are you saying really?
@@nicolasthecaged4940you're not an idiot, it's a white savior movie through and through. What that family did for him was amazing. But they didn't need to make Sandra Bullock the white answer to all of Michael Oher's black problems. She taught him to block? She confronted gansters in his neighborhood? They always do this shit. They couldn't just have her be supportive and loving, she had to be a fucking superhero.
@@nicolasthecaged4940 I by the way it was Michael Oher himself who said it portrayed him as dumb and that he knew football well before then. So basically you're not arguing against my point, you're arguing about the criticisms from the guy the movie is actually fucking about lol. Now that's peak arrogance.
"They portrayed me as dumb in this movie about me!"
You: No they didn't, I can tell.
When FlemLo drops, everything else stops.
thank you so much for covering this movie! i recently rewatched it as an adult now and realized theres a lot of uncomfortable scenes and depictions of Micheal's mother and upbringing so I was looking for someone to not only look into the real story but provide some discussion. This was a great video/analysis!
This is one of your best works. Thank you! It means a lot. I can relate to Michaels's story. I know what it's like to live in fear of the social worker. And how giving a chance to a troubled kid can succeed.
I’ve wanted a update on his story glad to have Flem do it
20:25 I totally agree as well. I did horrible in elementary school. It wasn't because I was dumb. I lived in a single parent household with 2 brothers. My dad was in and out of my youth, suffered from bipolar, and was highly abusive. My brother suffered from bipolar. My mom was feeding us off welfare and a small monthly stipend from my father and I had underdeveloped lungs and a weak immune system that constantly made me sick and at risk of pneumonia. Sometimes its not about being smart or not, not if life gets in your way.
yeah, a kid who’s starving is gonna worry about finding food, not about doing his math homework
Being in a single home doesn’t mean u wasn’t going to be great it depends on other things.
You have a ton of humanity man. It really helps me feel better about humans and I appreciate the amount of research and work you put in to highlight stories like this that would be passed over by others.
Again, another great story. Flemlo, you paint an awesome story with your words.
I've heard bits and pieces of what Oher went through. All that was really reported was he hated the movie and he knew how to play football.
Now you shed some light on his childhood and the obstacles he had to endure makes me think that his story is worthy of another movie or documentary.
I watched a video on UA-cam done by a Doctor that’s a concussion specialist about Tua and he said that’s it’s not about how many concussions a player gets that gives them CTE it’s that the NFL doesn’t let the players fully heal from them before they put them back on the field and the NFL knows that. If they would let them heal completely from a concussion it’s like they never had one but they don’t because it’s all about the money‼️🤬. I love his story the true one he tells not Hollywood. I was heartbroken to hear about his injury. NFL never has cared about any player black or white it’s about the money. 😢
Let's not try to act like their treatment of black and white players is equal. If that were the case, they would've paid for black players' healthcare after retirement at the same level of coverage from the outset. Black players from the 70's and 80's wouldn't have had to sue to get the same healthcare coverage. But they did. The NFL is corrupt af, agreed. Let's call a spade a spade though.
I am very impressed with the level of detail and the thought process you explore at various points in the story. Great video! I will forever see Michael as the hero of his story!
Man I’ve been a subscriber since you had like 20k. Now you’re almost to a million! So happy for you man. Keep grinding, much love
As always you put the human aspect in full force! Never fail to show the real stories instead of what other media outlets. Thank you! Keep up the amazing content!!
A couple of the few things I've noticed about all of the football players I've interacted with from Memphis and South Hampton Roads are: 1. They are oddly ambitious in that they actively pursue interests outside of the sport especially money making ones. 2. They're actually very intelligent in that their ability to recollect combined with a sheer desire of hustle always made them do well at school. Maybe it's something in the water, maybe it's just there circles I've operated in but this is the trend I've seen.
Love how you’re always an objective voice of reason when it comes to these stories. I try to put myself in these players shoes like you’re always asking us to do and I feel like they would mostly agree with how you present their stories.
This was so good! I’m glad this came up on my recommended. You’re a good storyteller and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Flem....KEEP DOING YA THING MY GUY!! I definitely had to rewatch this one before hopping into the one you just dropped. Your professionalism is a beautiful thing to see in this world full of post/videos done for the "aw's and applause"! Keep it up bro!!
We can’t say that someone having 12 kids and putting them in a position to fail, is a victim. She just made bad choices and decisions.
Victim culture excuses bad behavior too often. Victims are someone a crime is committed against, not someone choosing to go down a bad road trying to deal with one's less than ideal circumstances. I disagree with Flemo. Michael is the hero of the story because he chose the difficult path and refused to be a victim to his circumstances and environment he grew up in.
I can't see someone who makes bad decisions as a victim. But I can see a person living in misery and having kids suffering because of it. It's easy to judge but incredibly difficult to walk in their shoes, live their life fully and do it better.
Yep, if there's any victim in this situation it's the children. But still, people have overcome far worse
@@shawnlewis8657 living in misery for opening legs? Come on man. My grandma had 14 kids. My aunt's And uncles And my pops. Not a victim. Although there is a root cause to behavior. I am supposing there was some sort of trauma.
You absolutely can. It just takes empathy and non-binary thinking. Her kids are obviously all victims too, but it doesn't negate her circumstances either. You don't know the whole story. You know a tiny sliver about her and you're assuming everything from that. How do you know her upbringing didn't look exactly the same way? How'd she get hooked on crack? You think she was on top of the world with every imaginable opportunity available to her and decided to hit the pipe? Would Mike's story have been as rosy if he didn't have the size and skill to be a professional athlete, if he never had the opportunity to be in a stable home due to fortunate circumstances? Don't judge people you know next to nothing about. Systemic issues are real. Mental illness is real. You don't know what abuse and trauma that woman went through, so don't trivialize her experience with that throw-away, elitist, nonsense thinking. Clearly you're new to the channel, because otherwise you'd already know that there's more to every story than the headline.
Great video as always Flem. You just keep getting better at compiling these stories. I can tell your whole process is just more organized now.
FlemLo, your breakdowns on the human element behind these players is top notch. I think people sometimes get detatched from that side of sports. Have you ever thought about doing these for other sports?
I’ve been watching FlemLo Raps channel for a long time. Every video is so detailed. I can’t even imagine how many hours goes into his research. Keep doing your thing bro, the sky is the limit 💯
Great job with this story. I appreciate the research you do and the care you take to always present a balanced picture. Would love to see your version of the Orlando Brown, Sr. (aka Zeus) story.
I have no problem with how the white people helped Mike! For whatever reason the bottom line is they helped him reach the highest goal he could achieve and changed his life for the better. He did the work obviously but w/o help from lots of people white and black he got to the top of the mountain. It truely is a shame that people that have the money and ability to help more youths that need just a stable home situation don't do more. How many kids are out there just like Mike who need just a little stability and ultimately because they get no helping hand they fall thru the cracks and resort to making a living the only way they can which is usually illegal and that always leads to getting caught up in a system of justice that a poor person can never escape from. Those who have a lot should always think how they can give back. Not by donating money to write off at tax time but more personal individual help by giving of themselves.
His Mother was the definition of a bad Mother.
As Oprah would say_ don't change a thing, it made him who he is! He received that body from the parents--keep it moving! She gave him life, did not abort him.🙄
I've grown to enjoy this channel immensely in the past few months ever since I discovered it because you never forget that the people covered in your videos are just that: People. In this modern day and age where celebrity worship and cancel culture are both more prevalent than ever, it can feel like we often overlook the fact that public figures, football players included, are nuanced, emotionally complex individuals capable of making both good and bad choices in equal measure same as anyone else and instead seek to either put them on pedestals or drag them down into a pit, both by any means necessary. This channel, I feel, consciously chooses to avoid all of that and instead shows the bigger picture, offering insight into how these people got to various points in their life, showing what may have led to them making the choices they did, and, as a result of both, allowing the viewer to get the full measure of them as living, breathing human beings rather than simply seeing them as two-dimensional figures. It's a perspective on things that I feel things would be a lot better if more people adopted, but for now I'm simply grateful that this channel does whatever part it can to showcase this perspective and I hope it continues to do so.
Thanks for approaching Denise Oher’s side of the story with compassion
You know it’s gonna be an awesome day when FlemLo drops a new video! Thanks for all your hard work and fantastic videos!
FlemLo does it again. Always excited to see a new upload… honestly wish I could rewind time when I first found this channel and binge 5-10 of them in a row lol
FlemLoooooooooo! Glad to hear more on this. I always heard he didn't like his portrail and this just helps explain it more. Thanks bro!
I really like how you think, your balance, and the way present your analysis. It’s refreshing. Good job.
I think we gotta remember “based on a true story” always means there are going to be some dramatic elements added to the story..if the story was told exactly the way it went..it’d be a documentary.
Not at all. A documentary is more like this video where somebody is verbally telling you somebody's story. A movie can be made that's 100 percent factual and still be as interesting.
@@afiftysixteen9584 No it can’t, a movie is literally entertainment.
bullshit!!! how the dude the movie made about don't like it? I knew he wasn't going to like it when I saw it.
@@KelzKelz reread the comment bruh 🤦🏾♂️
@@jaquaveonandress649 exactly 🤦🏾♂️🤣
Please do a vid on Steve McNair. Feel like that story wasn't never fully told about his career and untimely death. Justice is still needed for Air McNair
22:26 - *BINGO FlemLo* …It's Breaking News today 8.14.23....You're Honest Journalism is what the World needs more of...I wish you and your Family nothing but success!!!
This whole video is awesome. But specifically I really like how you explain the way our experiences shape our understanding of stories we hear. Well stated.
As a Philadelphian who lives in the Kensington section, I'm glad you brought up the opioid addiction situation. A lot of people who are addicted to opioids get a bunch of sympathy and aren't judged, but the same wasn't applied for people who were dealing with crack addiction ( majority were black )
Why would you continue to live in Kensington? Free demonic zone walking dead fenty zombies
Same with alcohol (majority are white)
As a white man who was born with crack in their system which caused cerebral palsy and lost my mother due to opioid overdose. I see all drugs are medicine all medicine are drugs all equal. The sympathy giving to addicts only feeds their victim mindset which helps their addiction overtake due if there a victim there actions are q caused and affect of what they were fhd victim of. And a lot the poor/low class people sre white deal with addiction drugs and crime in their daily life. Life don't see color. And because I was white n on top of it a nice token handicap with good manners kid I must of came from a good home. No way I was going home to break info my own house after being locked to find my mom passed out on floor next to a bottle of pills. If you think about it most disability come from. Results of the mother it being drugs like my case , eating disorders both ends being too skinny or too fat. Being too old ect but the most common one in my experience is drugs as most of the projects are filed with blacks but the handicap thing isn't announced all the time. Life is life. If anyone read this whole thing sorry for rant. Addicts are not victims. Me someone born with 30% use of my lift side am not a victim
The criminal justice system didn't have empathy for those with Crack addictions but offered medication treatment and NO JAIL TIME FOR WHITE PEOPLE
Really glad I found your channel. Absolutely awesome videos over things that legitimately interest us. Thanks man!
One of your best, FlemLo!! I didn’t even notice this was 45 min.long!
Hearing the social workers wrongfully profiling Oher cause his size reminds me of a quote from Andre the Giant tho I can't remember the source. "Everyone always has sympathy and worries about the small guy [referring to people with dwarfism and stunted growth] But no one ever thinks about the Big guy." Like we always assume that people built tall and wide like Oher are quick to anger, are aggressive or incapable of being emotionally sensitive and sad/depressed. A lot of people think they are blessed with good genetic but nobody thinks about the pain in their legs, how uncomfortable they are in most chairs and tables, having trouble fitting in most clothing and overall standing out to be a bigger target for attention which has to be hell if they have social anxiety.
Love your channel.. I have always had questions with this movie and the way they portrayed Micheal. Would be very interested in seeing a Micheal Oher autobiography from his point of view and his ability to over come all the odds that he faced… .. thanks for another great video
I noticed that his adopted mom didn’t acknowledge His recent wedding nor did i see any of his adopted family in the pics
Incredible video! I have heard bits and pieces about this topic, but you definitely helped me understand it more, Thank You!
Love seeing you grow Flem! Keep doing your thing absolute love this channel
Literally just watched this movie the other day, will be checking this out, thanks for the upload brother🙏🏽
Admission, I haven't watched your videos in almost a year now. Not sure why but it stopped popping up even though I'm subbed and have notifications enabled. Either way last time I saw you weren't anywhere close a million subs like you are now. Congrats on your well deserved success my man. Love your style of story telling
I respect you so much for what you said about his mom’s addiction. It’s super easy to point fingers and accuse but we don’t know the whole story so I love that you took the high road instead of tearing her apart.
Drugs are NEVER the answer. Especially when kids are involved. Never. Doesn't matter the story. Try prayer
She was so high on drugs that she locked her own kids out of the house. Then she was unhappy at her portrayal in the movie?
GET OUTTA MY FACE!
@@bigalsnow8199 No ones in your face Bud. You clicked this comment an commented Lmao. 🤣
The full story is about her being a drug addict, stop searching for motives for her, you choose drugs, no one else, and that's coming from a former drug addict
@@christianwalker2554Syau get out your bubble before you judge somebody
amazing, just incredible journalism and as an added bonus you got to cover a Lineman who never get the praise they deserve.
Thank you for uploading!
Man absolutely love the way you put your concepts together and how you spit facts.
I subscribed and I'll be looking for more content. Keep being the kind of content creator you are.
What a tremendous video. As always you were incisive and on point and I knew way more when I left and when I got there! Thank you very much!
Retired NFL star Michael Oher, whose supposed adoption out of grinding poverty by a wealthy, white family was immortalized in the 2009 movie "The Blind Side," petitioned a Tennessee court Monday with allegations that a central element of the story was a lie concocted by the family to enrich themselves at his expense.
The 14-page petition, filed in Shelby County, Tennessee, probate court, alleges that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, who took Oher into their home as a high school student, never adopted him. Instead, less than three months after Oher turned 18 in 2004, the petition says, the couple tricked him into signing a document making them his conservators, which gave them legal authority to make business deals in his name.
The petition further alleges that the Tuohys used their power as conservators to strike the deal that paid them and their two birth children millions of dollars in royalties from an Oscar-winning film that earned more than $300 million, while Oher got nothing for a story "that would not have existed without him." In the years since, the Tuohys have continued calling the 37-year-old Oher their adopted son and have used that assertion to promote their foundation as well as Leigh Anne Tuohy's work as an author and motivational speaker.
"The lie of Michael's adoption is one upon which Co-Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves at the expense of their Ward, the undersigned Michael Oher," the legal filing says. "Michael Oher discovered this lie to his chagrin and embarrassment in February of 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the basis that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy family, in fact provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys."
The Tuohy family did not immediately return phone calls to ESPN on Monday.
Oher's petition asks the court to end the Tuohys' conservatorship and to issue an injunction barring them from using his name and likeness. It also seeks a full accounting of the money the Tuohys earned using Oher's name, and to have the couple pay him his fair share of profits, as well as unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
"Since at least August of 2004, Conservators have allowed Michael, specifically, and the public, generally, to believe that Conservators adopted Michael and have used that untruth to gain financial advantages for themselves and the foundations which they own or which they exercise control," the petition says. "All monies made in said manner should in all conscience and equity be disgorged and paid over to the said ward, Michael Oher."
Oher was a rising high school senior when he signed the conservatorship papers, and he has written that the Tuohys told him that there was essentially no difference between adoption and conservatorship. "They explained to me that it means pretty much the exact same thing as 'adoptive parents', but that the laws were just written in a way that took my age into account," Oher wrote in his 2011 best-selling memoir "I Beat the Odds."
But there are some important legal distinctions. If Oher had been adopted by the Tuohys, he would have been a legal member of their family, and he would have retained power to handle his own financial affairs. Under the conservatorship, Oher surrendered that authority to the Tuohys, even though he was a legal adult with no known physical or psychological disabilities.
The petition alleges that the Tuohys began negotiating a movie deal about their relationship with Oher shortly after the 2006 release of the book "Blind Side: Evolution of the Game," which chronicled the story.
According to the legal filing, the movie paid the Tuohys and their two birth children each $225,000, plus 2.5 percent of the film's "defined net proceeds." The movie became a critically acclaimed blockbuster, reportedly grossing more than $300 million at the box office, and tens of millions dollars more in home video sales. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, and Sandra Bullock won a Best Actress trophy for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy. While the deal allowed the Tuohys to profit from the film, the petition alleges, a separate 2007 contract purportedly signed by Oher appears to "give away" to 20th Century Fox Studios the life rights to his story "without any payment whatsoever." The filing says Oher has no recollection of signing that contract, and even if he did, no one explained its implications to him.
The deal lists all four Tuohy family members as having the same representative at Creative Artists Agency, the petition says. But Oher's agent, who would receive movie contract and payment notices, is listed as Debra Branan, a close family friend of the Tuohys and the same lawyer who filed the 2004 conservatorship petition, the petition alleges. Branan did not return a call to her law office on Monday.
In the past, the Tuohys have denied making much money from the movie, saying they received a flat fee for the story and did not reap any of the movie's profits. And what they did earn, they added, was shared with Oher.
I work late hours, and it is a blessing seeing new videos from FlemLo.
Another ace piece by FlemLoRaps, you do a better job telling insider stories than any of the NFL original programming.
Keep up the good work mate!
I don't know how I came across your channel, but I'm glad I did! Thanks for the great content!
Good shit Flemlo. Thanks for not click baiting us when u make content.
Really crazy they decided to portray Micheal as an idiot when the real story is sooo much more interesting. Not to mention (and it’s not often talked about ever) it takes a lot of intelligence to play lineman at an elite level. What do you do if they are line up a shade inside your inside shoulder, what if he’s outside, what if he’s outside and then stunts outside while the Mike screams inside you? This is why experienced lines in the nfl that have played together a while are straight gold.
He was just drafted when the movie came out I believe so I imagine he was mainly focusing on the NFL. But something tells me the Tuoys were more than happy to fill in many things. Especially at the self interest things
@@brianallison1913 just like Michael, once they sold their rights they didn't have a say. People live to make people heros and villains. Hollywood is why the movie was portrayed so such
Another banger brother. Love your content, especially the longer stuff. Really helps getting through work!
How are you not a over a million yet?! Your production is top notch and way better than anything on television right now! Great work!!
Man this is awesome bro!!God Bless and I hope your channel continues to grow!
Dude. Great video…once again! Thank you for for the research and for the time you took to show the full story.
I love this channel! Thanks for bringing us great videos and keeping it positive
This is the best UA-cam creator, I’ve found in years. The content is thoughtful, well researched and informative. Thank you.
Great story as always Flemlo🤟🏼 side not I noticed was the quote on Michaels shirt he was wearing as a kid “True winners never lose” one of my favorite quotes now
7:05 you can't came a "victom' role... WHEN YOU HAVE A DOZEN CHILDREN
36:10 I'm glad you acknowledged that. You can't just do whatever you want and think nothings going to happen to you.
I'm here after he filed that paperwork to end his conservatorship 😭🤦🏾
Fire content bro! We miss you when you’re not posting. Keep it goin
As far as the family possibly using michael for their gain i could see the dad approaching michael with the intent of seeing if hes got potential for ole miss but after talking to him and learning of his situation perhaps all he wanted was whats best for this young man. They can want him to go to ole miss and also want whats best for michael as well both things can be true
I appreciate your commentary on Michael and really breaking it down 💛
Love your channel King keep bringing the 🔥 content💪🏾🖤💜
Your best selection is always on point. Im rocking w your art flem, you too consistent!
Man Flemo you killed it man I’ve been watchin you for years n I love each any everyone of your videos man keep up the great work
You make alot of great points that I've never entertained before. Great job as always
I’m loving the hair, Flem! Great informative video with a good touch of learning points.
Bro. I love your videos. 2 years I think I've watched your videos. Much love and thank you. Onelove
You think you could maybe do more vids of some of the other 1988 odessa Permian football players like Mike Winchell or don Billingsly and what happened to them after high school football
Good suggestions
Flemlo, I do not know how you keep doing it. After all of these years of watching your videos, it seems the last year or so, you've taken to a new level. The research, the nuance of opinion. Cheers, man. You have the best channel on UA-cam without question.
Honestly. My favorite part of this video was seeing you eat lunch with your boy quick during the sponsor shout out. Always had a feeling you were a great dad/role model. Keep grindin bro✊🏽
Where do I message you?
Dope video man. Thanks for the hard work.
She's a victim???? She's reckless I understand one or two kids but twelve kids is careless????
I know and got to work a little bit w/Big Tony (Tony Henderson). He's still out here taking care of folks & helping young men. Also dude is a staple of North Memphis football. So not only did Michael already know the game, even if he didn't, ain't no way Tony would've failed to have taught him it.
It's a shame how he & Mike are minimized in that film.
That said, I'll see what I can do to get this video to Big Tony
I feel bad that he thinks the movie portrayed him as dumb. When I watched the movie, I didn’t see a dumb kid. I saw a kid that needed stability, but already had the brains. When the teacher is sitting in the teachers lounge reading what he wrote and threw away it’s very obvious that he is intelligent and observant. I also didn’t buy for one minute that this kid didn’t know anything about football. I saw that is total Hollywood hype. In the scene where Leanne asked him how he made it through, I really wish he had more of a response. A deeper response, but the response he gave was a dramatic, sympathetic response, but as movie makers they probably thought that was more effective. Personally I really wish they had given more dialogue to him at that point to say more about his childhood.
Crack still messing up families till this day. Those families just need help, not to be relocated. Kids gonna love their mother and father regardless and can see only the best in them and being placed in foster care will do more harm than good to them
Wow! That was a great watch! Awesome video dude. As with everything in life, there is another side to every story and I’m so happy to learn about this one. Feel bad it took this long to learn but better late than never. I subbed for sure man. I like how you think and your perspective on life and what we need to pay attention to when judging others.
This vid was journalism as it should be everywhere , all the time! :)