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| Jim Thornton |
New details have surfaced about the May incident that led authorities to question longtime Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton at LAX and later prompted Sony Pictures Television to suspend him from the show.
According to TMZ, the episode occurred on an American Airlines flight from Charlotte to Los Angeles. A passenger who could see Thornton’s laptop screen told the outlet she observed messages and images in an online chatroom that she found disturbing and that appeared to involve discussions of children. She reported her concerns to a flight attendant; the captain then arranged for law enforcement to meet the plane upon arrival.
KTLA in Los Angeles reports American Airlines confirmed that Flight 1276 was met by officers at LAX on May 14 after a customer onboard reported concerns. Thornton was questioned briefly and released.
His attorney said he “did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested and has not been charged with any crime,” adding that officers determined no wrongdoing had occurred after speaking with him for five minutes or less. The lawyer later said Thornton had intended to visit a suicide-prevention site and was misdirected to a similarly named forum, which he left once he realized its nature.
Sony has not detailed the allegations publicly. A studio spokesperson said the company “recently [was] made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton,” suspended him, and is recasting the announcer role while it conducts a thorough investigation.
USA TODAY confirmed a complaint was made on a May flight. “On May 14, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) following concerns reported by a customer onboard,” an airline spokesperson said.
Sony has not detailed the allegations publicly. A studio spokesperson said the company “recently [was] made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton,” suspended him, and is recasting the announcer role while it conducts a thorough investigation.
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| Lawyer Denies Wrongdoing |
Thornton’s lawyer said Sony Pictures Television’s internal review and the announcer’s suspension followed TMZ’s request for comment on the article. Sony has not publicly specified the allegations.
In a Sept. 1 statement, a studio spokesperson said: “We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton. He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.”
The status of the investigation remains unclear. Producers have already moved to recast the role; the first month of Season 44 had been taped, and those episodes are being re-edited with a new announcer.
“Wheel of Fortune,” cohosted by Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White, is airing reruns ahead of its Season 44 premiere on Monday, Sept. 14. Thornton, who also announces “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” joined the syndicated series in 2010 as a guest announcer and was named the permanent replacement in 2011 after Charlie O’Donnell’s death. He added the celebrity edition in 2021.