Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV, Michael Oher, NFL, US News, The Blind Side
Actor Quinton Aaron has said he’s ‘not taking sides’ amid the ongoing Michael Oher lawsuit.
Aaron portrayed Oher in the 2009 sports movie The Blind Side, which was heavily inspired by the former NFL player’s life as a teenager.
But over a decade on from the film's release, Oher has filed a lawsuit against his legal guardians, the Tuohy family – who were also depicted in the film.
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Given how much press has surrounded the lawsuit, you are probably familiar with the 2009 film but here is a quick play-by-play for those who haven’t watched The Blind Side.
The Oscar-winning flick centres around a young Oher who has been forced out of mainstream education after being made homeless.
It’s then that he meets Leigh Anne Tuohy (played by Sandra Bullock), and her husband Sean (Tim McGraw) who become his adoptive parents, with the troubled teen later becoming an NFL star.
While it might sound like pretty uplifting stuff, the sports movie is pretty problematic – especially following Oher’s recent lawsuit against the Tuohy family.
On August 14, the Baltimore Ravens player filed a suit in Tennessee alleging that he’d been ‘exploited’ by the wealthy family.
Not only was Oher never legally adopted, but the suit also claims that his conservatorship meant that the Tuohys could have ‘total control’ over potential deals – including with the NFL and selling rights to his life story.
Court documents also state that Oher alleged that his 'adoptive parents' made millions of dollars from his name.
Now, in a reaction to the lawsuit, Aaron told TMZ Sports that he was ‘not taking sides’ following the revelation.
The Blind Side actor told the outlet that he was saddened that things had taken a ‘not a good turn of events’ but argued that the story had ‘changed people’s lives’ - including as his own.
"I love Michael, I love the Tuohy family," he said, adding that he was sending ‘support and prayers’ to those involved in the suit.
He also responded to calls for Sandra Bullock to give up the Oscar she won for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy in the film.
"To make a statement like that doesn't make any sense. Sandra Bullock didn't have anything to do with the real story,” he pointedly told press, revealing that he was frustrated that her ‘brilliant performance’ had become ‘tarnished’ by the later ligation.
Instead, he called for those on social media to ‘chill out’ and focus on the ongoing lawsuit.
He said: "Enjoy the show because it's out there for everyone to see."
