The couple portrayed in The Blind Side has responded to a lawsuit filed by their “adopted” son Michael Oher, saying he attempted a “shakedown” before filing the suit which alleges the couple tricked him into signing a document that made them his conservators.
The attorney representing Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy issued a statement on Tuesday to Variety, calling Oher’s lawsuit “offensive” because the couple took him in, and provided “support” and “love.”
“The Tuohys opened their home to Mr. Oher, offered him structure, support and, most of all, unconditional love,” famed Los Angeles attorney Martin Singer said in a statement. “They have consistently treated him like a son and one of their three children. His response was to threaten them, including saying that he would plant a negative story about them in the press unless they paid him $15 million.”
Related Story: ‘The Blind Side’ Subject Michael Oher Claims in Lawsuit He Was Tricked Out of Millions
Singer claimed the couple is “heartbroken” about their legal dispute with Oher.
“They desperately hope that he comes to regret his recent decisions, makes different choices in the future and that they someday can be reconciled with him,” the attorney said. “In the meantime, however, they will not hesitate to defend their good names, stand up to this shakedown and defeat this offensive lawsuit.”
Oher, a former NFL player whose story inspired The Blind Side, filed his lawsuit on Monday in Tennessee.
The petition says the Tuohys pretended to adopt him, when instead they convinced him to sign documents that made them his conservators.
“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.
The family was the focal point of The Blind Side, which starred Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne, Tim McGraw as Sean, and Quinton Aaron as Oher.
The movie told the supposed story of the couple lifting Oher out of poverty, making him their son and helping him become a champion football player.
Oher’s lawsuit says the Tuohys were paid millions of dollars for the film, but he didn’t see any of the money.
