Sony Pictures Television has terminated Jim Thornton, the announcer of Wheel of Fortune since 2011, effective immediately. The studio confirmed the decision Friday after a short internal investigation that began with his suspension earlier this week.
A Sony spokesperson said: “Following a thorough investigation, Jim Thornton’s employment with ‘Wheel of Fortune’ has been terminated, effective immediately.” The company had placed Thornton on leave Sept. 1 or 2 and began recasting the role while it reviewed the matter. An interim announcer has already re-recorded his lines for the new season that premieres Sept. 14. No permanent replacement has been named.
Thornton, 61, joined the syndicated game show after the death of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell. He also announced Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and previously filled in on The Price Is Right. He is a Huntington, West Virginia, native and longtime Los Angeles radio personality.
The investigation followed an incident on American Airlines Flight 1276 on May 14, 2026, from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Los Angeles. A fellow passenger photographed Thornton’s laptop open on the tray table. The photos, later published by TMZ, show a website that describes itself as a support chat for “people who are attracted to children.” Visible messages included a reference to seeing “a couple of cute boys and a hot little girl” at a restaurant called an “All-you-can-eat Boyfett,” plus mentions of “CP,” commonly understood as shorthand for child pornography, and other sexual comments. Thornton was wearing a jacket with the Wheel of Fortune logo. Time stamps in the images indicate he remained in the chat for nearly an hour. He appeared to be typing.
The passenger reported the activity to a flight attendant and shared the photos with the crew. The captain notified authorities. Law enforcement met the flight at Los Angeles International Airport. Thornton was questioned for about five minutes and released. American Airlines confirmed that Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement after a customer report but did not name the passenger involved. Thornton was not arrested and has not been charged with any crime.
Thornton’s attorney, Allison Hart, said her client became active in suicide-prevention advocacy after a family member died by suicide two years earlier. She said he regularly used legitimate crisis-support chats such as those connected to 988lifeline.org. An acquaintance sent him a link that led instead to lifeline.chat. Hart stated that once Thornton understood the nature of the site he left it and has not returned. She said the site itself is not unlawful, contained no child pornography, and that Thornton “never viewed, downloaded or consumed any child pornography” on the flight or at any other time. “In short, my client did nothing wrong,” she said. Hart added that police “immediately determined that no wrongdoing had occurred.”
Sony has not released further details of its review. Thornton’s representative did not immediately comment to several outlets on the day of the firing announcement.
No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the May flight. Accessing a text-based support forum, even one aimed at people with pedophilic attraction, is not by itself a crime under U.S. law when no illegal images are involved. Possession or distribution of child sexual abuse material is a serious federal and state offense; none has been alleged here by law enforcement.
The story has drawn wide attention because of Thornton’s visible role on one of television’s longest-running programs. Viewers will hear a different voice when Wheel of Fortune returns this month.
Thornton remains uncharged.
