MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: The production company, Alcon Entertainment, that financed the 2009 movie ‘The Blind Side’ has released a statement against Michael Oher's lawsuit that accused the Tuohys of not adopting him but becoming just his conservators.
In his conservatorship suit, the former NFL star also alleged that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy have made millions through the Oscar winning film 'The Blind Side' based on his life but he did not earn any profits.
However, Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove, who are the co-heads of Alcon Entertainment, have slammed Oher’s claims.
'The Blind Side' studio Alcon Entertainment debunks Michael Oher’s claims
In a lengthy statement, Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove said, as per The Hollywood Reporter, “As the Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of Alcon Entertainment, the company that financed THE BLIND SIDE, as well as being two of the movie’s producers, we feel it is now important for us to respond to some recent media reports, which include many mischaracterizations and uninformed opinions.”
The men went on to assert that “the deal that was made by Fox for the Tuohys’ and Michael Oher’s life rights was consistent with the marketplace at that time for the rights of relatively unknown individuals.
“Therefore, it did not include significant payouts in the event of the film’s success,” before mentioning, “As a result, the notion that the Tuohys were paid millions of dollars by Alcon to the detriment of Michael Oher is false.”
“In fact, Alcon has paid approximately $767,000 to the talent agency that represents the Tuohy family and Michael Oher (who, presumably, took commission before passing it through),” the statement added.
The Tuohys gave Michael Oher 'an equal cut'
Martin D. Singer, the attorney for Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, had earlier said that the profits from the film were divided without any partiality. The lawyer noted, “They insisted that any money received be divided equally. And they have made good on that pledge.”
He added, “The evidence – documented in profit participation checks and studio accounting statements – is clear: over the years, the Tuohys have given Mr. Oher an equal cut of every penny received from ‘The Blind Side’.”
Meanwhile, Alcon Entertainment's co-founders’ statement came after Timothy Street, a lawyer who handles conservatorship cases, slammed Oher.
The attorney stated, as per The New York Post, “If you had enough financial savvy to sign a multimillion-dollar contract with the NFL, you have to have enough savvy to know whether or not you want to remain in a conservatorship.”
“They won’t let you sign a contract like that if you’re slobbering all over yourself,” Street added.
