Actor Quinton Aaron blindsided by Michael Oher lawsuit, defends Sandra Bullock
Explore More
Actor Quinton Aaron — who portrayed NFL star Michael Oher in the Hollywood blockbuster movie “The Blind Side” — said the rift between the ex-footballer and the Tuohy family is a “sad, unfortunate turn of events”.
Aaron was upset to hear about Oher’s bombshell lawsuit claiming the family who took him in, the Tuohys, had raked in millions of dollars in movie royalties over the years, while he made nothing — despite it being his life story.
“I was shocked and completely caught off guard,” Aaron exclusively told The Post Tuesday.
“Having met Michael and the Tuohys, I feel like this is a sad, unfortunate turn of events.
“I can say just from my personal experience from meeting with both parties, I have the utmost respect for all of them over the years.”
Aaron said he couldn’t go into details about his experience on set while filming “The Blind Side” due to the rules of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike he is participating in, but claimed he was surprised to hear Oher’s claims Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy duped the ex-NFL star into a conservatorship.
Oher, 37, filed a lawsuit in Shelby County, Tenn. court Monday and claimed he only recently learned he wasn’t officially adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy.
According to allegations made in the court documents filed on Monday, the Tuohys and their two biological children received $225,000 each in royalties, plus 2.5% of the movie’s net proceeds. Oher says he didn’t even see a penny from the movie’s success.
The Tuohys have disputed Oher’s claims, saying via a lawyer they had only ever made “a few thousand dollars in profit participation payments” and they had give him “an equal cut of every penny received,” according to TMZ.
In the same statement a lawyer for the family claimed Oher had orchestrated a “shakedown” to get $15m from the family which had been unsuccessful.
The 2009 Warner Bros movie, starring Bullock and Tim McGraw, has grossed more than $300 million.
Aaron, 39, said Oher wasn’t present during the filming and he only met him once in 2013 when they both signed autographs for fans in Chicago.
“We sat around after we finished and he was telling me that people were calling him my name, and I told him everywhere I went, people were calling me Big Mike,” Aaron said, referring to Oher’s childhood nickname, made famous in the movie.
Aaron said he was aware of Oher’s criticism of the film and how the former athlete felt he was misrepresented.
“Over the years there have been articles where he said he didn’t like certain things about the movie, but I didn’t know about this,” Aaron said of Oher’s new allegations.
The actor said he did initially take it personally when Oher criticized the film.
“Initially when I saw those articles, I couldn’t relate to what he was saying because I wasn’t looking at it from his perspective,” Aaron said. “To me, it was a job and I was highly appreciative of the opportunity. I think part of me felt he was p—ing on it.
“But after looking back at it through his eyes and putting myself in his shoes, I can see why he felt the way he did. His frustration had nothing to do with me because I played a part, I didn’t produce, write or direct it. We never got a chance to have that conversation, unfortunately.”
Aaron said he met Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy on set.
“They were very warm. I remember the first time I met Leigh Anne, she came up to me with open arms and gave me a big ‘ol hug,” the actor recalled.
Sean Tuohy told the Daily Memphian the claims Oher made against he and his wife have “devastated” the family.
Tuohy claimed the conservatorship was drawn up to ensure Oher was eligible to play football at the University of Mississippi.
Tuohy, who is a booster at the school, said there could have been potential National Collegiate Athletics Association issues had Oher attended the University of Mississippi, if he wasn’t part of the family.
The Tuohys were already millionaires before “The Blind Side” and operated a regional fast-food empire with more than 100 locations that included Taco Bell and KFC outlets. He has said he sold the restaurants for over $200m.
Criticism against the Tuohy family has even reached Sandra Bullock, who won the Oscar for her portrayal of Leigh Anne. Online trolls have criticized Bullock’s radio silence over Oher’s claims he was taken advantage of by the family.
“Sandra Bullock should give her Oscar back,” sports broadcaster Brandon Walker posted on X. “She knows she didn’t deserve [it]!”
Aaron was quick to defend his former co-star, who is grieving the recent death of her longtime partner Bryan Randall to ALS.
“We are living in a day and age where people are hell bent on pointing the blame on people and are just throwing things out there that’s wrong,” Aaron told The Post. “It’s like saying, ‘Let’s throw this person to the wolves.’
“Sandra did nothing wrong. That’s my girl and she is going through a really tough time right now. I really feel like they should leave her alone and stop trying to come at her.”
The actor added, “Stop trying to come for Sandra because you’re going to make me mad and they are going to have to come through me!”
Aaron, who is also pursuing a singing career and recently dropped a single tiled “Lead With Love,” said he hopes Oher and the Tuohys can come to a resolution.
“As a Christian, I feel like the best thing I can do is pray about it and hope a resolve comes to fruition that can be a benefit to both parties,” he said.
ncG1vNJzZmimqaW8tMCNnKamZ2Jlf3R7j3Fmam1flrC1u9FmqK6hnqm8r3nAmqmopl2Xuaq6w6ygnZ2UYq%2B6ecyimqGZlaF6sLTEq2SlmaeowqrAjJ2cn52emcBuv8Cnm6uZXZfCrbjOnKJo