SHELBY COUNTY, TENNESSEE: Quinton Aaron, who starred as NFL star Michael Oher in the movie 'The Blind Side,' said he was saddened by the lawsuit Oher filed against the Tuohy family who adopted him.
Aaron told New York Post he was “shocked and completely caught off guard” by Oher’s allegations that the Tuohys profited from the movie royalties while he got nothing, even though it was his life story.
How did Quinton Aaron react to to Michael Oher's lawsuit?
“I feel like this is a sad, unfortunate turn of events. I have the utmost respect for all of them over the years. I met Michael and the Tuohys personally,” Aaron said.
He added that he could not share more details about his experience on the set of 'The Blind Side' because of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike he was part of.
Oher, 37, sued the Tuohys in Shelby County, Tennesse court, on Monday, claiming that he only found out recently that he was not legally adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy.
In the court documents, Tuohys and their two biological children revealed they each received $225,000 in royalties, plus 2.5% of the movie’s net proceeds. Oher said he did not receive any money from the movie’s success.
The Tuohys denied Oher’s claims saying that they only made “a few thousand dollars in profit participation payments” and that they gave him “an equal cut of every penny received,” as reported by TMZ.
Quinton Aaron said he knew that Michael Oher was not happy with how the film portrayed him
Aaron, 39, said he only met Oher once in 2013 when they both signed autographs for fans in Chicago. He said Oher was not present during the filming.
“He told 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, popularized by the movie.
Aaron said he knew that Oher was not happy with how the film portrayed him. “I saw some articles where he said he didn’t like certain things about the movie, but I didn’t know about this," Aaron said, referring to Oher’s new lawsuit.
The actor said he felt offended at first when Oher criticized the film. “At first, 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 grateful for the opportunity. I think part of me felt he was p****g 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 role, 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 the 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.
Quinton Aaron defended his former co-star Sandra Bullock
Aaron defended his former co-star Sandra Bullock who won an Oscar for playing Leigh Anne in the movie and is mourning 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 the publication.
“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 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.
