Longtime Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended from the game show as Sony Pictures Television is investigating allegations against him.
“We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton,” the studio said in a statement to Variety. “He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.”
Sony did not elaborate on what sparked the investigation, though TMZ reports that they stem from an incident aboard a commercial flight in May. According to the outlet, another passenger raised concerns about Thornton to a flight attendant. That reportedly prompted the pilot to alert law enforcement, who were waiting for the television personality upon arrival.
Thornton was reportedly questioned by officers after landing and ultimately released. American Airlines confirmed that Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement when it arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on May 14 “following concerns reported by a customer onboard,” but did not disclose any other details.
The veteran broadcaster has served as the voice of Wheel of Fortune since 2011, when he took over following the death of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell the previous year. Thornton had been among the guest announcers who auditioned for the position during the show’s 28th season before being named as the permanent replacement. At the time of the announcement, he described the role as a “lifelong dream.”
Beyond Wheel of Fortune and its celebrity-themed spinoff, Thornton has amassed numerous radio, television, and voice acting credits over his career. His portfolio includes Celebrity Deathmatch, The Cleveland Show, and Monsters, Inc. He also previously worked as an anchor for Los Angeles’ KNX News.
It is not yet clear who will replace the 61-year-old announcer or whether the recasting will be permanent. Thornton has yet to publicly address his suspension or what brought it on.
