Michael Oher Sets the Record Straight about "The Blind Side"

When The Blind Side was released to theaters back in 2009, it immediately became a record-breaking hit. The film’s success wasn’t just limited to the box office, though, and went on to garner an Academy Award nomination for Best Film.

Still, despite the amazing and inspirational story the movie tells, not everyone was happy with it.

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Michael Oher, on whose true-life story the film is based, felt that the movie didn’t truly represent the events as they transpired. Now, it’s time to set the record straight, dispel the rumors, and find out exactly how the movie is different from real life.

The Blind Side seemed to please almost everyone. Audiences couldn’t get enough of it, critics praised it, and Sandra Bullock received one of the highest forms of praise an actor could hope for, in the shape of an Oscar nomination for her acting. Still, one important individual was far from pleased when he sat down to watch it.

Michael Oher, on whose life the film is based, found it difficult to get on board.

He felt that the film didn’t represent his life in a truthful way, and even said that ultimately the movie did more harm than good.

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Let's talk about some of the changes that were made in the film — that led to some inaccuracies.

The Blind Side tells the story of how Michael Oher was taken in by the Tuohy family – and his troubled past is mentioned.

But the Hollywood version of Oher’s life has been simplified and watered down, to make it more easily digestible.

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Michael Oher’s life before the Tuohys was, indeed, tough. His mother was an addict and not very present throughout his childhood, while his father was incarcerated in prison. Oher has 11 brothers and sisters — none of whom had it easy as they were growing up.

In The Blind Side, the Tuohy family first meets Michael out in the rain, his clothes wet and his teeth chattering. They then proceed to take him in. But while this is quite a dramatic entrance for a character in a movie, the real events of the Tuohy family taking Michael in were more gradual and organic.

Image by @leighannetuohy / Instagram

Leigh Anne Tuohy had met Michael through his school, where her other children were also studying, and at first decided to help him buy new clothes. It took a while for their relationship to develop – although in the end, they did adopt Michael.

In the film, Quinton Aaron portrays Michael Oher as a quiet, reserved, loner type. He’s timid and passive, and acts on the requests of others. But the real Michael Oher couldn’t be more different.

In real life, Oher is known for his big personality, quick humor and roaring laughter. But more importantly, Oher feels like he’s been proactive in his life – he wasn’t led to his football career, he’s sought it out himself.

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In short, it’s not that Quinton Aaron’s performance is bad – it’s just that Big Mike doesn’t feel like it represents him.

In real life, Leigh Anne Tuohy was a successful interior designer. Interestingly enough, one of her clients was none other than Patrick Ramsey, the Washington Redskins quarterback. While this fact isn’t mentioned in the movie outright, Leigh Anne, played by Sandra Bullock, does mention Patrick Ramsey in the film as an offhand reference – but also as a wink to fans in the know.

In The Blind Side, Michael Oher’s racial background isn’t really addressed. Yes, it’s mentioned several times – but it isn’t a major issue Oher, as portrayed by Aaron, has to deal with.

Image by @leighannetuohy / Instagram

In real life, though, coming to a private, predominantly white high school came with its fair share of challenges, not the least of which was the bigotry Oher had to put up with from many of his fellow classmates. Even within the loving Tuohy family, at times this was an issue that they all had to learn to deal with. Despite this, however, Oher managed to thrive.