Tuohy biological son on former football player Michael Oher's allegations: 'I get it, why he's mad'

The biological son of the Tuohy family, the subject of former NFL player Michael Oher's legal challenge of a conservatorship agreement, discussed the situation Monday.

“I get it, why he’s mad,” SJ Tuohy said during an interview Monday with Barstool Sports. “It stinks that it’ll play out on a very public stage. That part sucks, but, oh well.”

Oher grew up in Memphis and played football at Briarcrest Christian School and Ole Miss before becoming a first-round NFL draft pick in 2009. On Monday, he filed a petition in Shelby County probate court asking a judge to grant an order to end the conservatorship that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy had signed in 2004.

Oher's petition argues that the Tuohys “enriched themselves" at his expense. Oher's life story was the subject of a 2006 book by Michael Lewis and was later adapted into the movie "The Blind Side," which generated more than $300 million at the box office and millions more in home video sales. SJ Tuohy indicated during the Barstool Sports interview how much money he has seen in recent years from royalty checks.

But SJ Tuohy — the executive director of The Kingdom, which is the name, image and likeness collective for UCF athletics — balked at the notion that any member of his family made an exorbitant amount of money off the film.

Here's what we know: Michael Oher vs. Tuohy family in 'The Blind Side' conservatorship

“I’ve never once talked about, truthfully, um, how much money I have made off the movie,” SJ Tuohy said. “But candidly — I mean, I don’t really care that much, it’s gonna be public record now anyway. But . . . remember I got the first check. I was at the University of Arkansas (as a member of the coaching staff). We were in Memphis. We were, uh, um — I’m trying not to get me illegal recruiting implications. I was around my house at the time. I met my dad for lunch and he gave me a check, and I’m like, ‘We get paid off this thing?’

“He’s like, ‘Yeah, it’s made so much money now that they can’t hide it.’ We’ve probably — we, as in me personally only, because I can speak to that — I’ve made like $60, $70 grand over the course of the last four or five years.”

Oher also contends the Tuohys misled him, convincing him the papers he signed that gave them conservatorship were “a necessary step in the adoption process.” Oher, however, was not legally adopted by the family, despite staying at their home and calling the Tuohys "Mom” and “Dad.”

Neither Sean Tuohy nor Oher's attorney, J. Gerard Stranch IV, immediately responded to The Commercial Appeal's request for comment Monday afternoon.

The petition said that shortly after Lewis' book was released, the Tuohys began negotiating a movie contract with 20th Century Fox. The contract, according to the petition, said the Tuohys negotiated a one-time payment of $225,000, plus 2.5% of all future proceeds from the movie for themselves and their two natural-born children.

The petition said Oher never received money from the movie’s proceeds and that the Tuohys earned millions of dollars. As publicized in the movie, Oher was one of 12 children to his mother. He spent time in foster care, along with periods of homelessness, before the Tuohys took him into their home while he played high school football at Briarcrest Christian.

Speaking to Marshall Ramsey of Mississippi Public Broadcasting on Monday before the news of his petition broke, Oher said he was "grateful for (the Tuohy family) for letting me stay my senior year there."

More Michael Oher, Tuohy family stories

Column: ‘The Blind Side’ story of Michael Oher is forever tainted — whatever version you believe

'The Blind Side' lawsuit: Tuohy family intends to end conservatorship for Michael Oher

Attorney: Tuohy family did not control Michael Oher's finances

Tuohy attorneys: Michael Oher received $100K in 'The Blind Side' profits, same as everyone in family

Michael Oher petition claims 'Blind Side' narrative, adoption by Tuohy family was a lie

Lucas Finton and Nick Gray contributed to this report.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Son SJ Tuohy on football player Michael Oher allegations: 'I get it, why he's mad'