Michael Oher of 'The Blind Side' claims Tuohys never adopted him

TIES IN COURT. AND HE'S DEMANDING MONEY HE SAYS HE'S OWED FROM THE MOVIE. IT WAS A REAL LIFE STORY THAT INSPIRED AN OSCAR WINNING HOLLYWOOD HIT "BLIND SIDE." >> ARE YOU GOING TO PROTECT THE FAMILY, MICHAEL? GOOD BOY. GO HAVE SOME FUN. >> Reporter: NOW MICHAEL OHER SAYS IT'S ALL BASED ON A LIE. IN A NEW LAWSUIT, OHER SAYS THE TUOHY FAMILY NEVER ADOPTED HIM AND THEY EXPLOITED HIM FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT. >> WE WANT TO KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME PART OF THE FAMILY? >> I KIND OF THOUGHT I ALREADY WAS. >> Reporter: THE PETITION ALLEGES THE TUOHYS HAVE FALSELY AND PUBLICLY REPRESENTED THEMSELVES AS THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS OF MICHAEL. INSTEAD, OHER SAYS THE COUPLE TRICKED HIM INTO SIGNING A DOCUMENT THAT MADE THE TUOHYS HIS CONSERVATORS, GIVING THEM FULL CONTROL OVER HIS CONTRACTS BUT NOT LEGALLY MAKING HIM A PART OF THEIR FAMILY. IT IS A LIE OHER DISCOVERED TO HIS CHAGRIN AND EMBARRASSMENT SIX MONTHS AGO. >> Reporter: WITH THAT POWER, OHER ALLEGES THE TUOHYS NEGOTIATED THE DEAL FOR "THE BLIND SIDE." HE CLAIMS THE FAMILY PROFITED AND HE RECEIVED NOTHING. IN AN INTERVIEW, SHAWN TUOHY SR. SAYS THE FAMILY IS DEVASTATED BY THE ALLEGATIONS AND DIDN'T MAKE ANY MONEY OFF THE MOVIE. HE SAID IT WAS A ROUTE TO SECURE OHER'S ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL SAYING LAWYERS ADVISED WE COULDN'T ADAPT OVER THE AGE 18. THE ONLY THING WE COULD DO WAS TO HAVE A CONSERVATORSHIP. I WANT WHAT HE WANTS. IF HE'D HAVE SAID, I DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS FAMILY ANYMORE, WE WOULD BE UPSET BUT WE ABSOLUTELY WOULD HAVE DONE HIT. >> IF HE SAYS HE LEARNED THAT IN FEBRUARY, I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE. 2020, 2021, THEY WERE LIKE F YOU GUYS GIVE ME THIS MUCH, I WON'T GO PUBLIC. >> THAT'S WHY THIS STORY IS SUCH A BUMMER TO HEAR IT. WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP HERE? >> SO MICHAEL OHER ASKED A TENNESSEE COURT TO END THE CONSERVATORSHIP AND PREVENT THE FAMILY FROM USING HIS NAME AND LIKENESS ANYMORE. THEY NEED TO SUBMIT RECORDS LIKE CONTRACTS AND E-MAILS TO THE COURT. IF THE COURT FINDS THE TUOHYS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISCONDUCT, THEY COULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY PUNITIVE DAMAGES. THE TUOHY FAMILY SAID THEY WOULD FILE A RESPONSE IN THE COMING

Channel: TODAY

Views: 15,624

Keywords: Al Roker, Entertainment, Food, Hoda Kotb, International News, Money, Natalie Morales, Savannah Gutherie, Sports, Style, Today, Today Show, breaking news, concerts, domestic news, health, home, interviews, media, parents, pets, politics, shopping, weather

Id: gZSqZaXm5P8

Length: 3min 1sec (181 seconds)

Published: Tue Aug 15 2023