‘Wheel of Fortune’ announcer Jim Thornton suspended amid ‘allegations’
Sony Pictures Television said the studio will be recasting Thornton's position while it conducts a thorough investigation into allegations made against him.
Longtime game show announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended from "Wheel of Fortune" amid allegations, according to Sony Pictures Television. The studio stated they are conducting a thorough investigation into the claims made against Thornton. Sony Pictures Television confirmed to Variety that Thornton has been suspended from the popular game show while the investigation is ongoing.
TMZ reported that the allegations stem from an incident on a commercial airline flight that Thornton was reportedly aboard in May. An alleged passenger complained to a flight attendant, leading to the incident. American Airlines acknowledged the incident but did not name Thornton, stating that there were concerns reported by a customer onboard. The airline did not provide further details about the nature of the complaint.
Thornton's lawyer told TMZ that the announcer did not engage in any illegal conduct and was not arrested or charged with any crime. When questioned about the complaint, law enforcement spoke to Thornton for a short period, determined there was no wrongdoing, and informed him he was free to go. Thornton has been the voice of "Wheel of Fortune" since 2010, replacing the original announcer Charlie O'Donnell. He has also been the announcer for "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" since 2021.
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