Former NFL player Michael Oher has taken legal action against the Tuohy family, bringing attention back to the wealthy Memphis family portrayed in the film "The Blind Side."
Oher, who won a Super Bowl championship with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, filed a petition this week to end the conservatorship that the Tuohys have over him. He alleges that he agreed to the conservatorship under the belief that it was a form of adoption due to his age, and claims that the family profited from the film while he did not.
The Tuohys, through their attorneys, have dismissed Oher's allegations as "ridiculous." However, their legal counsel has indicated that they will cease the conservatorship, according to The Associated Press.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, FOX Business has taken a closer look at the Tuohy family empire. Sean Tuohy, the patriarch of the family, ran numerous fast-food franchises, including 115 Taco Bell, KFC, and combined restaurants, as well as a handful of Freddy's.
In 2019, the family received $213 million through multiple deals to sell off most of their restaurants and 55 pieces of real estate. However, Sean Tuohy still retains ownership of nearly a dozen Taco Bell locations in Florida.
"The Blind Side," the film based on Michael Lewis' book of the same name, was released in late 2009 and grossed $309 million worldwide. The movie starred Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy, Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy, and Quinton Aaron as Oher. Oher alleges that while each member of the Tuohy family received $225,000 from the film and 2.5% of the proceeds, he received nothing.
However, Michael Lewis, the author of the book, stated that the Tuohys received about $350,000 in profits, the same amount he received. Lewis also claimed that Oher declined his share of royalty checks, which prompted the Tuohys to put the checks in a trust for Oher's son. The Tuohy family lawyers have stated that each family member and Oher received about $100,000 from the film.
In addition to their involvement in the film industry, the Tuohys have authored books. The couple's book, "In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving," made it onto the New York Times Best Sellers list. Leigh Anne Tuohy also wrote a book titled "Turn Around: Reach Out, Give Back, and Get Moving," which is described as a "five-day-per-week devotional" on her website.
The Tuohys established the Making It Happen Foundation, a nonprofit organization, after the success of "The Blind Side." The foundation's mission is to promote awareness and improve the standard of living for children in need. In 2022, the foundation disbursed $20,147 in contributions, which went towards providing attire for children, supporting an elementary school, and a girls' running team. The foundation has a five-person board of directors, including Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, their two adult children, and another individual.
In addition to their business ventures and philanthropic work, the Tuohys also engage in motivational speaking. Leigh Anne Tuohy's website states that their speeches include discussions of their experiences with Oher and aim to help audiences recognize the potential of individuals in their community. Sean Tuohy speaks on topics such as finance, giving, and valuing people correctly.
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