This article is especially if you don't care about burgerball, but I'll sum up here and give you some reddit reactions to laugh at
TL;DR
Background: The Blind Side
In 2006, a book came out detailing the story of Michael Oher, a boy born into poverty, who grew up in the foster system, but who was adopted* by rich wypipo (The Tuohys) . After the adoption, he gets his grades up, learns that he's really good at football*, and goes on to receive a full scholarship at a reasonably successful university football program (the same one his adoptive parents are alumni of ) A real rags to riches story After he was drafted into the NFL in the first round a film (The Blind Side) came out starring Sandra Bullock that got her an Oscar . Sounds great right? He was given the opportunity of a lifetime, seized it, and was able to carve a nice 7 year career in the NFL for himself. Only...
The Twist
He was never adopted-he was tricked into signing a conservatorship signing away the ability to make his own business deals
The 14-page petition, filed in Shelby County, Tennessee, probate court, alleges that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, who took Oher into their home as a high school student, never adopted him. Instead, less than three months after Oher turned 18 in 2004, the petition says, the couple tricked him into signing a document making them his conservators, which gave them legal authority to make business deals in his name.
That's just the start of the drama! Apparently his conservators used this power to negotiate the film deal to enrich their biochildren and themselves, while leaving Oher with nothing!
The petition further alleges that the Tuohys used their power as conservators to strike a deal that paid them and their two birth children millions of dollars in royalties from an Oscar-winning film that earned more than $300 million, while Oher got nothing for a story "that would not have existed without him." In the years since, the Tuohys have continued calling the 37-year-old Oher their adopted son and have used that assertion to promote their foundation as well as Leigh Anne Tuohy's work as an author and motivational speaker.
Also-despite what the movie would have you believe, he was known to be good at football BEFORE this agreement was put in place Talk about a grindset-these guys pretended to adopt a majorly sought after football player, guided him towards signing for their alma mater, helped make a movie about him and made a big payday for themselves and their children to boot
Today these allegations came to light-what do folx think?
The Reaction
I mean, this situation sucks but the guy literally signed away his rights and STILL ended up a millionaire I wouldn't say its quite the same as
Exploitation is endemic to capitalism. It's not just a Mississippi issue.
From /r/cfb, rivalries are the sports version of wingcuckery and I love it
Fan of Oher's school:
Fan of that school's biggest and most hated rival, bitching about recruiting battles from over a decade ago :
Fantastic drama from everywhere!
!nonchuds come and post about how you always knew this was a white savior movie in 2009!
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Seems odd that now is when he goes for this?
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
From the article:
And the petition was just submitted today.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Did the family not interact with him this whole time?
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Reposting my other comment: From the article:
IIRC his excuse was that his NFL career (until 2016) kept him from realizing the full scope of what he alleges (he was drafted and the movie came out in 2009) but it sounds like they've been falling out a long time. In some of those reddit threads people were pointing out that both sides don't follow or post about each other on social media (unless the Tuohys are trying to promote his story) as well.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
That sucks for him I know that's gotta hurt
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
In reality, Mike was so fricking stupid that he signed away his life story to a fricking family who gave him nothing and didn't even know that he got played until 10 years later. Maybe the fricking movie made him seem too smart.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
So he didn't read the contract?
And even if he was family, what would he get? Can't they write him out of the will or simply not give him money because he's just their kid? I don't really get this angle.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context