The producers behind The Blind Side are addressing the recent controversy surrounding the film’s portrayal of the Tuohy family’s financial involvement in the story.
In August, former NFL player Michael Oher, whose life inspired the 2009 movie, filed a legal petition against the Tuohy family. He claimed that they became his conservators in 2004, granting them ultimate control over his contracts and financial gains from his life story.
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, a couple from Memphis, were alleged to have negotiated contracts for themselves and their biological children, Sean Jr. and Collins. They reportedly secured a contract worth $225,000 and 2.5% of future “Defined Net Proceeds” from The Blind Side. The film generated over $330 million in revenue. Oher’s petition also mentioned a $200,000 donation to their Making It Happen Foundation.
Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson, co-founders and co-CEOs of Alcon Entertainment, the company that financed the film, clarified the Tuohy family’s earnings in a statement obtained by E! News on August 24.
The co-founders, who were also producers of the film, explained that the contracts did not include substantial payouts based on the film’s success. Therefore, the claim that the Tuohys received millions from Alcon to Oher’s detriment is inaccurate.
The production company paid approximately $767,000 to the talent agency representing the Tuohys and Oher. This sum likely had an agency commission deduction before being distributed among them. (Sean mentioned that each family member and Oher received around $14,000 after The Blind Side book author Michael Lewis shared part of his share.)
Kosove and Johnson also anticipated future payments for Oher and the Tuohy family as the film continues to be enjoyed by audiences.
“We anticipate that the Tuohy family and Michael Oher will receive additional profits as audiences continue to enjoy this true story in the years to come,” they stated. “In addition to these contractual payments, Alcon made a charitable contribution to the Tuohy family foundation. We offered to donate an equal amount to a charity of Mr. Oher’s choosing, which he declined.”
The statement from Kosove and Johnson also defended the film itself against criticisms that arose from Oher’s lawsuit. They noted that critics had used the lawsuit as an opportunity to pick apart the movie, even calling it “fake” or a “lie.”
“We are as proud of the film today as we were when our amazing collaborators made the movie 14 years ago,” they said. “We hope our fellow filmmakers all over the world will continue to look for uplifting stories to tell, and have the freedom and empowerment to have their voices heard.”
Oher, now 37 and married with four children, claimed in his legal petition that the Tuohys led him to believe the conservatorship was akin to adoption. He only realized earlier this year that it did not establish familial ties with the Tuohy family. He asserted that the Tuohys never informed him of their “ultimate control” over his contracts.
The legal document revealed that a contract signed in April 2007 granted the studio the right to use Oher’s name, likeness, voice, and more attributes “without any payment whatsoever.” However, Oher stated that he never knowingly signed this document and was not given an explanation that he was signing away rights to his name, image, and life story.
One of the Tuohys’ lawyers, Steve Farese, mentioned, “The Tuohys never controlled any of Mr. Oher’s contracts,” according to USA Today.
Since the legal proceedings, the Tuohys have expressed their intention to end Oher’s conservatorship after nearly 20 years.
E! News reached out to the Tuohys and Oher for a response to Kosove and Johnson’s statement but has not received a reply.
Keep reading to see photos of the people who inspired The Blind Side.
The Blind Side Premiere Collins Tuohy, Sean Tuohy Jr., Leigh Anne Tuohy, and Sean Tuohy dressed up for the 2009 New York premiere of The Blind Side, a movie based on their life with adoptive son Michael Oher, who later became a professional football player.
Oscars Night The long-time couple walked the red carpet at the 2010 Academy Awards in Los Angeles to celebrate The Blind Side, which earned actress Sandra Bullock an Oscar that year for her portrayal of Leigh Anne.
