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Wheel of Fortune Announcer Jim Thornton Fired After Suspension Over Airline Incident Allegations
Sony Pictures Television has fired Jim Thornton, the longtime announcer for 'Wheel of Fortune,' following a suspension tied to allegations stemming from a May American Airlines flight. Thornton denies any wrongdoing through his attorney, while Sony cites a thorough investigation. The nature of the allegations has not been specified.
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TMZ and Variety both confirmed Thornton's firing by Friday afternoon, as reported by Live 5 News WCSC and WIS10.
The Airline Incident and Allegations
The suspension and subsequent firing follow an incident that occurred on an American Airlines flight in May. According to TMZ, another passenger complained about Thornton's behavior, and he was met by law enforcement at the gate upon arrival.
The Daily Beast reported that the pilot alerted law enforcement to meet Thornton at the gate, and authorities questioned and released him. The Daily Beast also noted that TMZ published photos that appeared to show Thornton wearing a Wheel of Fortune jacket while on a computer in an airplane, with what looked like a chat room seemingly for pedophiles on the screen. The photos were taken in May, but the suspension happened Tuesday, as reported by Live 5 News WCSC and WIS10.
Fox News Digital reported that it has reached out to Thornton's attorney for comment.
According to The Daily Beast, Sony is undergoing the "major undertaking" of editing Thornton out of the first month of episodes he had already taped for the current season. Sony has not yet announced who will replace Thornton as the investigation unfolds, The Daily Beast reported.
Background
Thornton became the announcer of "Wheel of Fortune" in 2010, according to Live 5 News WCSC and WIS10, replacing the iconic Charlie O'Donnell after his death in 2010. Fox News reported that Thornton was hired in 2011. He had not publicly spoken about the incident as of the time of reporting, according to Live 5 News WCSC and WIS10.
How each outlet told it
A framing line is our reading of that outlet's own text — an interpretation, not a quotation and not a fact we assert. Check it against what the outlet published.
Framing: Frames the event as a firing after an investigation, focusing on the action taken against Thornton. — Measured and factual
Facts Included:
Sony Pictures Television Studios has fired Jim Thornton from 'Wheel of Fortune.'
'Following a thorough investigation, Jim Thornton’s employment with ‘Wheel of Fortune’ has been terminated, effective immediately,' a Sony spokesperson told Fox News Digital Friday.
The news of Thornton's termination comes after he was suspended from the game show earlier this week.
'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,' a spokesperson for Sony Pictures Television Studios told Fox News Digital Sept. 1.
Sony did not specify the nature of the allegations.
Thornton was hired as an announcer for the game show in 2011.
The alleged incident was related to an American Airlines flight Thornton took in May, according to TMZ, in which another passenger complained about Thornton’s behavior.
He was met by law enforcement at the gate.
'On May 14, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport following concerns reported by a customer onboard,' the airline told TMZ.
Thornton was not taken into custody, TMZ reported.
On Sept. 2, Thornton's attorney addressed the allegations in a statement to TMZ.
His attorney told the outlet the 61-year-old 'did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested and has not been charged with any crime.'
'When questioned about the complaint made by a fellow passenger on the flight, law enforcement spoke to him for five minutes or less, immediately determined that no wrongdoing had occurred and told my client he was free to go,' Thornton's lawyer told TMZ.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Thornton's attorney for comment.
Thornton replaced iconic 'Wheel of Fortune' announcer Charlie O’Donnell after O’Donnell's death in 2010.
Framing: The headline announces the firing and frames the article as providing details, using 'Here’s what we know' to signal an informational summary. — factual and neutral
Facts Included:
Jim Thornton was fired by Sony days after he was suspended.
The suspension came after TMZ posted photos that appeared to show Thornton wearing a Wheel of Fortune jacket while on a computer in an airplane.
On the screen was what looked like a chat room seemingly for pedophiles.
The photos were taken in May, but the suspension happened Tuesday.
A Sony 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.'
TMZ and Variety both confirmed his firing by Friday afternoon.
Thornton, who became the announcer of 'Wheel of Fortune' in 2010, had not publicly spoken about the incident.
Jim Thornton has denied committing any crime after his suspension from Wheel of Fortune.
Thornton has been the series' announcer for the past 15 years.
Thornton told TMZ through his lawyer that he 'did not engage in any illegal conduct.'
The alleged airline incident occurred in May.
The incident was reported by a fellow passenger aboard an American Airlines flight.
The pilot alerted law enforcement to meet Thornton at the gate.
Authorities questioned and released Thornton.
Sony announced Tuesday that it suspended Thornton after learning of the allegations.
Sony is undergoing the 'major undertaking' of editing Thornton out of the first month of episodes he had already taped.
Thornton's lawyer stated he 'was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime.'
Law enforcement spoke to Thornton for five minutes or less and determined no wrongdoing had occurred.
Sony's statement: '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.'
American Airlines confirmed law enforcement met the plane on May 14, Flight 1276, at Los Angeles International Airport following concerns reported by a customer.
Ryan Seacrest took over as host from Pat Sajak in 2024.
Thornton announced the game in Tuesday's pre-taped episode.
Thornton took over as announcer after Charlie O'Donnell's death in 2010.
Jim Thornton was fired by Sony days after he was suspended.
The suspension came after TMZ posted photos that appeared to show Thornton wearing a Wheel of Fortune jacket while on a computer in an airplane.
On the screen was what looked like a chat room seemingly for pedophiles.
The photos were taken in May, but the suspension happened Tuesday.
A Sony 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.'
TMZ and Variety both confirmed his firing by Friday afternoon.
Thornton, who became the announcer of 'Wheel of Fortune' in 2010, had not publicly spoken about the incident.
ClaimJim Thornton's attorney told TMZ that the 61-year-old 'did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested and has not been charged with any crime.'
ClaimJim Thornton's lawyer told TMZ that 'when questioned about the complaint made by a fellow passenger on the flight, law enforcement spoke to him for five minutes or less, immediately determined that no wrongdoing had occurred, and told my client he was free to go.'
ClaimSony is undergoing the 'major undertaking' of editing Jim Thornton out of the first month of episodes he had already taped for the current season.
ClaimA Sony 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.'
ClaimAmerican Airlines said in a statement: 'On May 14, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport following concerns reported by a customer onboard.'
ClaimTMZ posted photos that appeared to show Jim Thornton wearing a Wheel of Fortune jacket while on a computer in an airplane, with what looked like a chat room seemingly for pedophiles on the screen.