The Author Of 'The Blind Side' Says Michael Oher Filed His Lawsuit 'After Getting Hit In The Head'

Michael Oher | SCREENSHOT: CBN News/YouTube Credit: C/O

The saga of The Blind Side continues, as stories continue to emerge from the pending litigation between the subject of the book and movie, Michael Oher, and his adopted family (in the movie and real life), the Tuohys. Now, the writer behind the story is alleging that Oher might be making a bad decision due to complications from taking too many hits on the gridiron.

Of course, the fictional story of The Blind Side is a heartwarmer that helped land Sandra Bullock an Academy Award for her role as Leigh Ann Tuohy. And as the ‘story’ goes… An underprivileged and oversized manchild moves in with a wealthy, white, southern family. They help transform him into a prized student and winning athlete. The film drew critical praise and became an instant re-watchable classic. And it also helped make Oher into a household name. Leading all the way up to 2009 – the year Oher was drafted into the NFL – everything seemed to work out.

In the years that followed, there was the revelation that Michael Oher wasn’t really happy with the way the story was told, he also mentioned that – while heavily fictionalized – the movie had an inspiring and uplifting plot. At the time, most people just passed it off as the ‘Holly-washed’ version of events (or the old ‘based-on-a-true-story’ angle). So, most fans of the motion picture just figured that it was just to sweeten up the story and there was no harm and no foul.

That all changed when Oher revealed that he was suing the Tuohy family, claiming he had been tricked into signing a conservatorship and never received any pay from The Blind Side or the use of his likeness and story.

Now, the author of the book, The Blind Side, is refuting Oher’s claims. He theorizes the former Baltimore Raven must have some kind of brain injury as he isn’t remembering the events clearly. Writer Michael Lewis believes that’s what sparked Michael Oher’s lawsuit against the Tuohy family.

“What we’re watching is a change of behavior,” Lewis told The Guardian of Oher’s filing. “This is what happens to football players who get hit in the head: they run into problems with violence and aggression.”

The author stood behind the Tuohy Family’s version of events and challenged Oher’s legal claims that they made millions from The Blind Side film while he got nothing. Lewis said they received six figures at best. A judge in the matter dismissed the Tuohys’ conservatorship over Michael Oher but did not close the case. Oher’s suit against his former family is set to go to trial in early 2024.

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NEXT: Tuohy Family From ‘The Blind Side’ Responds To Accusations From NFL Vet Michael Oher As He Seeks Film Royalties