The Memphis couple portrayed in the Oscar-winning 2009 film “The Blind Side,” accused in court of cheating on soccer star Michael Oher over nearly two decades, allege in new court filings that Oher sent them text messages and E emails to try to blackmail her out of $15 million, threatening to ruin the glossy portrayals of their relationship.
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy also argued in court documents filed Monday that their retelling of the story of their relationship with Oher in paid appearances falls under fair use and should not be considered a commercial use of Oher’s name, image and likeness, which he claims is paid become.
The Touhys cited excerpts from messages from Oher, the former Mississippi and NFL offensive lineman, saying he threatened to say publicly and widely that he had been robbed of more than $50 million.
“If something is not resolved this Friday, I will tell the world how I was robbed by my supposed parents. This is the deadline,” the Tuohys said, Oher said. They also said Oher told them, “Think about what it will look like when this comes out.”
Oher’s legal team did not respond to messages seeking comment Tuesday.
In August, Oher, 37, filed a petition claiming the Tuohys lied about their adoption when they gave him papers to make them his conservators in 2004. A maneuver the Tuohys admitted was used to help Oher play for Mississippi.
In his petition, Oher asked for the conservatorship to be closed and demanded a full accounting of the monies earned from his name, image and likeness, as well as back pay for the money earned through the conservatorship, leaving the Tuohys in charge of Oher’s financial affairs at the time, when he was considered a top -NFL candidate.
In a statement of claim filed in September, the Tuohys denied Oher’s allegations that they cheated on him. They denied exploiting Oher for their own benefit and forging his signature on contracts. They said they were “ready, willing and able to mutually terminate the conservatorship at any time.”
A Tennessee judge said in September she would end the unusual conservatorship but would not dismiss the financial part of the case. In the filing, the Tuohys said they paid Oher the same share of the profits from the film “The Blind Side” – about $138,000 – that each of them received, as well as their two children.
Oher is seeking a preliminary injunction in the case, which the Tuohys opposed in Monday’s filing.
“Oher is part of her personal and family history; “It is not a commercial statement in the form of an advertisement or solicitation,” the Tuohys’ filing states. “The protected speech in question is intended to encourage ordinary people to make a difference in the lives of people like Mr. Oher.”
Oher, the No. 23 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, retired in 2017 after playing for three teams and helping the Baltimore Ravens win a Super Bowl.
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