'Blind Side' Star Comments on 'Unfortunate' Ravens Michael Oher Situation
Actor Quinton Aaron is equally flummoxed about the situation surrounding former Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Michael Oher as the real-life counterparts of his co-stars.
Aaron is best known for portraying Oher in the 2009 film "The Blind Side," a screen adaptation of Michael Lewis' book "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game." The actor, who turned 39 on Tuesday, told Marjorie Hernandez of the New York Post that he "was shocked and completely caught off guard" by what's transpired this week. Oher has claimed his purported adopted family, a wealthy Mississippi clan known as the Tuohys, tricked him into signing a conservatorship in lieu of legal adoption and cheated him out of millions of dollars in royalties stemming from the film.
"Having met Michael and the Tuohys, I feel like this is a sad, unfortunate turn of events," Aaron told the Post. "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.”
The film depicts Oher, an impoverished youth, entering the lives of the Tuohy family led by Leigh Anne and Sean, respectively portrayed by Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw. In the movie, the Tuohys are depicted as rescuing Oher from a life of poverty and crime by taking him into their home and teaching him of the game of football. The climax culminates in Oher being adopted by the Tuohys and playing football at their beloved University of Mississippi before he was chosen in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Ravens.
Though the film grossed over $309 million in box office receipts and was lauded for Bullock's performance, Oher has long been critical of his depiction in the film. In his 2011 memoir "I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond," Oher said was displeased that the film made it seem like he had no knowledge of football prior to meeting the Tuohys, though he did compliment Aaron's performance.
“I felt like (the film) portrayed me as dumb instead of as a kid who had never had consistent academic instruction and ended up thriving once he got it," Oher wrote. "Quinton Aaron did a great job acting the part, but I could not figure out why the director chose to show me as someone who had to be taught the game of football."
Aaron said he met Oher once after the film's release and that they shared an amicable conversation. He was aware of Oher's criticisms but understood where he was coming from, though this week's developments were something entirely different.
"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. "Initially ... I couldn’t relate to what he was saying because I wasn’t looking at it from his perspective. To me, it was a job and I was highly appreciative of the opportunity."
"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 also lauded his relationship with the Tuohys, having met Leigh Anne and Sean on the set of the film and calling them "very warm." Sean said that he and his family were "devastated" by Oher's accusations this week and claimed that the conservatorship was done in the name of both allowing Oher to play football at Mississippi and the closest thing he could've had to legal adoption after he turned 18.
Having had positive interactions with both sides, Aaron is hoping that Oher and the Tuohys at least arrive at a stalemate. Sean stated in his comments that he would end the conservatorship ship if Oher desires.
“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,” Aaron said.
In the wake of Oher's accusations, a fringe online movement has called for Bullock to be stripped of the Academy Award she won for her portrayal of Leigh Anne. Aaron rose to the defense of the actress, who is grieving the loss of her partner, photographer Bryan Randall after his bout with ALS.
"Sandra did nothing wrong," Aaron said. "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.”
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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