Published 17:18 IST, December 14th 2020

Is 'Safety' a true story? Here's the truth behind this heart touching film

Disney Plus recently released a heartwarming film called 'Safety' narrating the heart warming story of a college football player. Find out if it's a true story.

Reported by: Disha Kandpal
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Disney Plus is all set to release a new film called Safety. biographical sports drama film is based on heart touching story of Ray McElrathbey, a football player who h to battle extreme family versity to join  Clemson Tigers. Helmed by director Reginald Hudlin, film is produced by Mark Ciardi and written by Nick Santora. Re on to find out, “Is Safety a true story?”

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Is Safety a true story?

Yes, Disney film Safety is based on a true story. In an interview with People Magazine, real Ray McElrathbey revealed that he was in college back in 2006, when he h first heard that y wanted to make a movie. Ray, a former Clemson football player h taken custody of his 11-year-old bror Fahmarr McElrathbey, also kwn as ‘Fay.’

Ray was forced to step in as a parent for his younger bror as ir mor battled drug diction and ir far struggled with gambling. Ray didn't want his bror Fahmarr to be sent into same foster care system he was forced to endure as a kid. report by People magazine furr reveals that Ray took Fahmarr to Clemson University in South Carolina, from ir hometown of Atlanta. 

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He successfully petitioned courts to become his younger bror's legal guardian. Following this, every morning, he woke Fahmarr and sent him off to middle school, before heing to his classes and football practice. Every evening he would return home with food for Fahmarr, that he h snuck out of cafeteria. 

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After helping his bror with his homework, Ray put him to bed. n college football player heed to finish his own homework. Ray was only 19 at time. In ar interview with ESPN, Ray said that he h to do it because he couldn’t stand to see his bror being left behind in foster care system. He said that he hoped ir story will help or people who are struggling.

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story of Ray and Fahmarr has been public since 2006

While many fans across world will be introduced to story of Ray and Fahmarr though Safety movie on Disney Plus, ir story has been inspiring people since fall 2006. Ar report in ESPN states that when longtime Clemson sportswriter Larry Williams learned of McElrathbey brors during a casual chat with a Tigers assistant coach, he met boys. Williams went on to write about Ray’s dual role as a student-athlete/legal guardian, and within a few days, story h gone national. 

news story caught eye of  ESPN, which ran a story on Outside Lines and College GameDay. Soon, brors were being called in every major show in country, from Today to Oprah. While Ray and Fay were enjoying ir moment in limelight, Clemson compliance officers were fighting for a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) waiver that would allow school to help Ray look after his 11-year-old bror.

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Did Clemson get NCAA approval?

Clemson authorities told ESPN that y were t trying to get a big pile of money for boys. Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips explained that y just wanted to be able to pick kid up from school while Ray was at practice, or make sure y h something to eat. As Ray’s story went public, people started reaching out to university, wanting to donate money and time. Thankfully, NCAA did right thing even though it took a lot of work.

Once NCAA waiver was granted, Fahmarr became a fixture of Clemson football facility. coaches' wives would set up a carpool schedule to pick him up from school each day and take him to practice. He did homework in film rooms and attended practice every day. Because of this Ray was able to gruate with flying colours.

Did Ray McElrathbey play in NFL?

, Ray who is 34 w, did t play in NFL. He splits his time between Atlanta, South Carolina and Los Angeles, where he has worked as a personal trainer. He has even worked as a bodyguard to some celebrities. His mor, Tonya, is drug-free. Fahmarr who is 25 years old right w works with his family as part of Ray Ray Safety Net Foundation. It is designed to help families who are struggling to stay toger because of substance abuse

17:18 IST, December 14th 2020