Michael Oher, the professional football star who was the subject of the 2009 blockbuster hit The Blind Side said Wednesday the film has had a negative effect on his football career.
The film, which stars Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, and Quinton Aaron brought in nearly $300 million dollars at the box office and chronicles Oher’s life leading up to the start of his football career.
ESPN reports Oher made comments this week after he was questioned about a minicamp tussle between Oher and defensive end Kony Ealy, which explained the current state of his career.
“I’m not trying to prove anything,” said Oher. “People look at me, and they take things away from me because of a movie. They don’t really see the skills and the kind of player I am. That’s why I get downgraded so much, because of something off the field.”
“This stuff, calling me a bust, people saying if I can play or not … that has nothing to do with football. It’s something else off the field. That’s why I don’t like that movie,” he continued.
Bullock ended up winning an Oscar for her performance in The Blind Side, as she portrayed a well-to-do white suburban house wife who took in a homeless black teenager and helped launch his football career at Ole Miss.
“That’s taken away from my football,” Oher said. “That’s why people criticize me. That’s why people look at me every single play.”
Breitbart News reached out to Quinton Aaron, the actor who played Oher in the film, for a statement on Oher’s comments.
Aaron directed us to a statement updated on his Facebook page.
Aaron wrote:
I think that what people need to understand is that, as a public figure our lives are put on display for the world to see as entertainment for those of us that shall choose to watch. That being said, I understand where Michael was coming from when he stated his feelings toward the film… When a story about someone’s life is being told by someone else, certain details can sometimes get lost in translation.
…The Blind Side tells a different story.
The Blind Side may not have been told the way it actually went down, but you gotta at some point notice the amount of people’s lives this movie has touched in a positive, encouraging and inspiring manner and use that platform to help others that are less fortunate than you are and maybe going thru something similar to what you’ve been thru.
At the end of the day bro you are a Millionaire, you’re famous, you are a SuperBowl Champ, you have an amazing family that loves you, friends, fans and teammates. Who’s gives a damn about what people say or think who wanna criticize your game bro, that shouldn’t matter.
In 2014, Oher signed a five-year, $20 million deal with the Tennessee Titans, but was released early after battling a toe injury that limited him to 11 games at right tackle, per ESPN.
The Carolina Panthers signed Oher to a two-year, $7 million deal in March to protect the blind side of quarterback Cam Newton.
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