{"id":16176,"date":"2019-11-19T14:08:14","date_gmt":"2019-11-19T14:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womentales.wpengine.com\/?p=16176"},"modified":"2021-11-29T19:45:57","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T19:45:57","slug":"the-blind-side-michael-oher-separates-fact-from-fiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/the-blind-side-michael-oher-separates-fact-from-fiction\/","title":{"rendered":"The Blind Side \u2013 Michael Oher Separates Fact from Fiction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The film The Blind Side was an immediate success as soon as\nit hit theaters in 2009. Not only did it rake in more than $300 million from\nthe box office on a meager $29 million budget, but it won an astonishing number\nof rewards, including the Best Sports Movie. However, despite receiving so much\nlove, and being one of the most inspirational stories of recent history, not\neveryone was happy with the film. Michael Oher, the person whose life inspired\nthe film, felt that The Blind Sind didn\u2019t represent the real-life events in the\nway he would have liked. Here are the things the blockbuster hit deviated from\nfact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Audiences Loved The Blind Side, but Michael Didn\u2019t<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: gettyimages.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The film became an instant hit among viewers across the globe, but there was one critically important person who felt differently. Michael Oher, whose story was told in the movie, felt that The Blind Side did more harm than good. Based on his reports, there are a few things that he would like to set straight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

2. Before the Tuohys<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: gettyimages.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The movie talked briefly about his troubled past, but the honest truth was that his childhood was so difficult that Hollywood had to water it down to make it more easily digested by audiences. His life was indeed a struggle \u2013 an addict mother who was hardly ever home, a father in prison, and 11 siblings. These facts were skimmed over briefly in order to get to the crux of his inspiring tale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

3. Meeting the Tuohys<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: instagram.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In the movie, the Tuohys see Michael outside in the heavy rain and immediately take him in. A dramatic entrance, for sure, but what really happened was Leigh Anne Tuohy met Michael through school where her children also attended and decided to give him clothes. The Tuohys eventually adopted Michael, but not after their relationship developed over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

4. Not A Loner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: gettyimages.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The film portrayed Michael Oher as a quiet kid who kept to himself, but the real-life Michael was anything but a loner. He has a huge, infectious personality and roaring laughter that shakes any room he\u2019s in. But, according to Michael, the biggest problem he had with the film was that Quinton Aaron (the actor who plays Michael) was led into a football career when in fact, Michael was proactive in making opportunities for himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

5. Leigh Anne\u2019s Connection with Football<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: instagram.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The real-life Leigh Anne, played by Sandra Bullock in the movie, was a highly successful interior designer who had a wide range of well-known clients. One of which was the then-quarterback for the Washington Redskins \u2013 a fact that was implicitly mentioned in the movie. Only die-hard fans who knew of Michael\u2019s story beforehand would have gotten the reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

6. Underplayed Bigotry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: instagram.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The movie touched on Michael\u2019s black heritage from time to time, but it wasn\u2019t one of the major focuses of the film. However, being one of the few black students in a predominately white private school, he had to deal with racial insensitivity often. Even among his adoptive family, there were issues about race, but they all learned to live with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

7. Gradual Acclimation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The movie showed Michael and the Tuohy family getting along instantaneously, but the fact of the matter is, as we mentioned in an earlier point, it took both parties time to get acquainted. Like any person living with any hardly-known individual, everybody had their guards up, but they eventually warmed up to each other. This, as Michael put it, was what the film got right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

8. His Self-Determination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In The Blind Side, Leigh Ann is the person who instills the love of football. Although the real Leigh Ann did play a significant role in his training, Michael wasn\u2019t completely unaware of how to play the sport. In fact, the movie entirely skips Michael\u2019s athletic background which he picked up from previous schools and past peers. He said the producer\u2019s leaving this fact out completely robbed him of his hard work and determination as a self-made athlete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

9. Sandra Bullock Almost Turned the Role Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One of the various things about The Blind Side that has received a ton of positive feedback is Sandra Bullock\u2019s masterful acting. It\u2019s amazing to think that Sandra actually turned the role down in the beginning since she felt she wouldn\u2019t make a good fit at realistically portraying a devout Christian, but after meeting with the real Anne Leigh, she eventually changed her mind. In the end, she even took a significant pay cut in order to be part of the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

10. Julia Roberts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: stuttershock.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Julia Roberts was also offered the part of Anne Leigh, but she felt the role wasn\u2019t right for her. Her ultimate refusal led to Sandra Bullock being offered and taking the role. What might have been had Julia took part in the film\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

11. 2-year Age Gap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: stuttershock.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fans of The Blind Side and Michael Oher have all praised Quinton Aaron\u2019s acting, and it\u2019s no wonder why he was cast. The two have the same intimidating yet soft demeanor, but that\u2019s basically where their similarities end. Quinton, born in 1984, is two years older than the real Michael, born 1986.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

12. Friendship Beyond the Movie<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Michael Oher stated that the movie didn\u2019t really do his story justice, but he holds no grudges against the cast. In fact, Sandra befriended both Michael and the Tuohy family, and she is often spotted at Michael\u2019s NFL games as well as visiting the Tuohys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

13. Overnight Celebrity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: stuttershock.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Quinton\u2019s performance as Michael in the film is spot-on, except for the loner attitude, but his acting is impeccable. However, he initially didn\u2019t audition for a role in the movie. He met John Lee Hancock, the director, and gave him his name card, just in case the crew needed security. Imagine how shocked he must\u2019ve been to receive news that he was auditioning for the main role!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

14. A Serious Athlete<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: gettyimages.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One of the things Michael absolutely dislikes about The Blind Side is how it portrays him as an athlete. The movie depicts his character being ushered into football, whereas in real life, he put his heart and soul to get to where he is today. The worst part is that many people are unfamiliar with this fact and view him as a \u201clucky.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

15. Admission to Briarcrest Christian School<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: instagram.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Like so many other parts of the movie, his admission into this elite private school wasn\u2019t correctly portrayed in the film. The movie shows the school\u2019s staff attitude changing immediately toward Michael after delivering a heartfelt speech. Although he was advocated by his coach (something the movie got right), he had to go through a rigorous screening process and academic tests to get in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

16. I Beat the Odds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: imgur.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Not many people get a movie made about their success story, but Michael was anything but pleased about The Blind Side. He went out to set the record straight by writing the autobiography, I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to the Blind Side, and Beyond. In this book, he goes into detail about his childhood and corrects the glamorized part that Hollywood producers needed to make an inspiring movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

17. Collins Tuohy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: instagram.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s impossible to watch The Blind Side and not fall in love with Collins Tuohy, Michael\u2019s adoptive sister. The movie shows her as a dedicated and talented student, cheerleader, and volleyball player, but in real life, she is much more than that. She won the state championship in pole vaulting while still in high school and received a scholarship from the University of Mississippi for cheerleading! <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

18. Meeting Sean Tuohy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Michael\u2019s first meeting with Anne Leigh wasn\u2019t the only thing the movie got wrong. In the movie, he met his adoptive father when he caught him picking leftover food, while in reality, they first met when Sean bean helping him out. He went to his school to ensure that Michael\u2019s lunch money was paid for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

19. Grueling Physical Training<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Quentin Aaron had the correct build to accurately pull off Michael\u2019s character, but he still had to go through a rigorous physical training program to bulk up. He did more than work out; Aaron spent three months at Georgia Tech to play alongside the football team to give him not only the physical strength to play but also knowledge of the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

20. Briarcrest\u2019s Response<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t only Michael Oher who felt a strong dislike about how he was portrayed but also the staff at the Briarcrest. The school management team feared that the portrayal would reflect badly on the school, so they requested the film\u2019s producers change the name of the school in the movie (Wingate Christian School).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

21. Adapting to Fame<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: stuttershock.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Quinton Aaron, the star who played Michael Oher on screen, was a regular man living paycheck to paycheck before being cast in The Blind Side. His part in the movie opened new opportunities to the actor, including putting him on an airplane for the very first time in his life. Initially, he was apprehensive about what fame would do to him, but since the movie\u2019s release, he\u2019s acclimated pretty well to the glitzy, fast-paced life of Hollywood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

22. Mom Knows Best<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: stuttershock.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The similarities between Quinton and Michael continue on. For instance, Michael was supported by Leigh Anne to play football, and Quinton was pushed by his mother to audition for the role, despite his lack of confidence. When his mother heard that they were casting a large for the role of Michael, she submitted his name on his behalf. And the rest is history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

23. Shedding Pounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: stuttershock.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After he landed the role of Michael, Quinton was 100% committed to do whatever it took to play the character as best as he could. This not only meant undergoing a grueling regime of physical training but also losing more than 100 pounds. Against all odds, he managed to shed enough weight in the three-month period before shooting began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

24. Tim McGraw<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: stuttershock.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sandra Bullock wasn\u2019t the only A-lister to land a role in The Blind Side. Many people will recognize the actor who portrayed Sean Tuohy who is none other than the talented country music legend Tim McGraw. And he wasn\u2019t the only musically talented actor on the set \u2013 Lily Collins, who played Collins, is the daughter of Genesis\u2019 Phil Collins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

25. Becoming a Serious Actress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sandra Bullock was a highly popular actress in the late-1990s and early 2000s, but she was mainly cast in romantic comedies. Though a well-known actress, she wasn\u2019t perceived as a serious one until The Blind Side. Not only did she receive an Academy Award for her part, but her name was placed right above the title of the film on posters \u2013 an honor saved for the most established actors and actresses. She became the first actress to receive the honor in a blockbuster grossing over $200 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

26. Tiny Budget, Big Success<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: gettyimages.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Blind Side received positive responses from all over the world, both by audiences and critics. The most surprising thing of all is that the movie grossed over $200 million at the box office on a mere $30 million budget. It shattered records as being the highest-grossing sports movie of all time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

27. The Thanksgiving Meal Scene<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This scene wasn\u2019t just important as it showed the entire Tuohy family, Michael included, sitting down for their first family meal, but it was also an almost picture-perfect recreation of the classic painting, Freedom from Want. Many historians cite the painting as being the inspiration behind Thanksgiving turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

28. Ole Miss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: gettyimages.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Another important \u201ccharacter\u201d in the film was Ole Miss, the nickname for Leigh Anne and Sean\u2019s alma mater. Michael follows in the footsteps of his adoptive parents by enrolling into Mississippi U. Shockingly, this wasn\u2019t the first time Sandra played the role of an Ole Miss alum. In the 1996 movie A Time to Kill, she plays Ellen Roark, a law student from Mississippi U.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

29. Evolution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: stuttershock.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Michael Oher later wrote an autobiography separating fact from fiction, but the film was actually inspired by a book written by Michael Lewis titled The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game. It spoke of Michael\u2019s story as well as Lawrence Taylor\u2019s who played for the NY Giants for 12 years until 1993.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

30. Cameos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Genuine sports fans noticed familiar faces scattered across different scenes in the movie. This is because a number of popular coaches from NFL teams and universities were on set to play minor roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

31. Georgia or Tennessee?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The story is supposed to take place in Memphis, Tennessee, but the film was actually shot in Atlanta, Georgia. The film\u2019s crew took special precautions to stick as close to the Memphis feel as possible, but sharp-eyed viewers were able to notice a sign reading \u201cGeorgia Lottery PLAY HERE\u201d while Leigh Anne and Michael take a stroll through the Big and Tall Store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

32. Percentage-Based<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sandra Bullock initially turned the role of Anne Leigh down, but after meeting the woman, she everything in her power to be a part of the film. This included taking a major pay cut since the film couldn\u2019t meet her pay demands. In the end, Sandra agreed to take a certain percentage from the film\u2019s profits. Not a bad deal, considering the film grossed over $200 million in theaters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

33. For the Coaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: stuttershock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This film is full of cameos that would make any die-hard football fan squeal with delight, but there was one cameo that wasn\u2019t picked up for quite a bit of time. This was Michael\u2019s real-life high school coach from Briarcrest, Hugh Freeze. He plays the assistant coach behind Houston Nutt for the University of Arkansas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

34. Wonderbar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: stuttershock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hollywood films usually go by a working title before being released for marketing purposes. This film\u2019s working title was Wonderbar \u2013 a name that left people scratching their heads. Perhaps it was a shout-out to Sandra\u2019s German heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

35. The Real S.J.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: instagram.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The cameo roles weren\u2019t just filled by popular coaching figures. SJ Tuohy, Michael\u2019s adoptive brother, makes a brief appearance in the movie during the first game\u2019s scene. He is sitting right next to Tim McGraw. After graduating, S.J. Tuohy went on to play football for Loyola University. Today, he coaches the Southern Methodist University\u2019s team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

36. Incorrect Test Answer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Like the real-life Michael Oher, Quinton\u2019s Michael had to pass a series of examinations to be admitted into Wingate. If he failed, he\u2019d be back out onto the streets where he came from. As the camera passes over his history exam paper, it shows him marking Germany as the place where the Battle of Waterloo took place when in fact it took place in Belgium and the Netherlands. Despite the obviously wrong answer, the examiner gave him full marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

37. Overlooking Details<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: gettyimages.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Movies based on real-life events try to stay true to the story as much as possible, but directors and producers tend to overlook certain details. One such scene that was tampered with was at the recruiting office where Tom Lemming receives a recording of Michael. The recording is sitting atop a 2009 magazine issue with Bryce Brown on the cover. However, the story of The Blind Side takes place in 2003 and 2004.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

38. More Incorrect Dates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Bryce Brown time discrepancy wasn\u2019t the only thing that made it to the final cut. In the movie, we can see the actor playing Sean Tuohy using the Safari browser though it was actually available in 2007. Another case is the car Leigh Anne drives \u2013 a BMW 750LI \u2013 which was released in 2006. The 2003 and 2004 model of the 750LI looks a lot different than the 2006 version so viewers were quick to point this out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

39. Privacy Violation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Knowledgeable viewers noticed something that most people would never have known \u2013 Leigh Anne, who received access to Michael\u2019s files to monitor his progress, had not officially adopted Michael at that point. This would have been a serious breach of private files since only legal guardians and those with power of attorney can access them. Wingate seems to be a bit sloppy with their rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

40. Proud of the South<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: Scene from The Blind Side<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Blind Side isn\u2019t just about football \u2013 it\u2019s also a film\nthat allows people to be proud of living in the south. As it turns out, several\nof the actors in the movie are real-life southerners themselves! Sandra Bullock\nwas born in Virginia and went to high school there. Tim McGraw was born and\ngrew up in Louisiana, and he has become one of the biggest country music\nsensations today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The film The Blind Side was an immediate success as soon as it hit theaters in 2009. Not only did it rake in more than $300 million from the box office on a meager $29 million budget, but it won an astonishing number of rewards, including the Best Sports Movie. However, despite receiving so much […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":16505,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16176"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16176"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97344,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16176\/revisions\/97344"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}