The production company that financially backedThe Blind Sideis speaking out and defending the Oscar-winning film against “many mischaracterizations and uninformed opinions” in the last 10 days, since the film’s subject Michael Oher alleged the Tuohy family lied to him about being adopted.

In a lengthy statement sent to PEOPLE on Thursday afternoon, Alcon Entertainment co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove defended the film’s authenticity and clarified that Oher, now 37, and the four members of the Tuohy family were collectively paid approximately $767,000 in payments delivered through their talent agency forThe Blind Side.

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Michael Oher #74 of the Ole Miss Rebels

Oher alleged in a legal filing Aug. 14 that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy had misrepresented what a conservatorship was when they had him agree to it at age 18, and said the Tuohy family — and their two children — “collectively received millions of dollars and Michael received nothing for his rights” to the film.

The 2009 movie made $330 million at the box office and has continued to make money in the years since.

Michael Oher.Scott Cunningham/Getty

Michael Oher #73 of the Carolina Panthers watches play against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFC Championship Game at Bank Of America Stadium on January 24, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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In his petition, Oher has accused the Tuohys of enriching themselves off his name and likeness in the wake ofThe Blind Side. According to theNew York Times, Leigh Anne Tuohy has charged $30,000 to $50,000 per appearance as a motivational speaker, per available online estimates. TheTimesalso reports that the Tuohys’ Making It Happen foundation, which pledges to help children who “fall through the cracks of society,” has brought in more than $1 million since 2010, including some donations from Sean Tuohy’s businesses, according to its financial disclosures. TheTimesfound that the foundation has spent less than 20% of its total received donations on charitable efforts, according to aTimesreview of records dating to 2010.

Alcon Entertainment also responded to an allegation in Oher’s petition that “Sean Tuohy amended the agreement for Oher’s life story in 2010 without his knowledge, after which the [Tuohys’ Making It Happen] foundation received $200,000 from Alcon Entertainment.” Alcon did not comment on the circumstances but said Thursday the company “offered to donate an equal amount to a charity of Mr. Oher’s choosing, which he declined.”

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Oher’s legal filing has led to a wave of backlash against the Tuohys and the film in recent weeks. Alcon Entertainment’s statement Thursday defended the core message of the film and why it was made.

“In the story ofThe Blind Sidewe saw the better angels of human nature,” Johnson and Kosove’s statement read. “We saw it in the Tuohy’s wonderful acts of kindness toward Michael Oher. However, more importantly, we saw it in the extraordinary courage that Michael Oher demonstrated in accepting the Tuohys’ generosity not as a handout, or as his saviors, but as a way through which he could improve his own life.”

Michael Oher and the Tuohy Family.Jeff Zelevansky/Getty

Baltimore Ravens #23 draft pick Michael Oher poses for a photograph with his family at Radio City Music Hall for the 2009 NFL Draft on April 25, 2009 in New York City

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty

Johnson and Kosove’s lengthy statement said that “Michael’s academic accomplishments and athletic achievements demonstrate this,” as well.“His raising of his own children now, who shall know a life of possibility the likes of which Michael never knew as a child, is the ultimate testament to Michael’s own strength and courage,” the production company added. “In both of those regards,The Blind Side is verifiably authentic and will never be a lie or fake, regardless of the familial ups and downs that have occurred subsequent to the film.”Oher has supported the film for shining a light on the foster care system, but disagrees with his portrayal, particularly how it show him as a struggling student. The Super Bowl champion talked about that dichotomy in his new book,When Your Back’s Against the Wall: Fame, Football, and Lessons Learned through a Lifetime of Adversity.

“While the movie did a great job of raising awareness about teens in foster care who might succeed if given a loving family and a chance, it did not do a good job of accurately painting my life,” he wrote.

source: people.com