Why Was Jim Thornton Suspended? Wheel of Fortune Announcer's Sudden Exit Explained

Longtime Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended from the game show as Sony Pictures Television Studios investigates allegations concerning him, abruptly taking the familiar voice off the programme after 15 years.

Sony confirmed the suspension and said Thornton's role is being recast while the investigation continues. The studio, however, has not disclosed the nature of the allegations or publicly identified a specific reason for its decision.

Why Was Jim Thornton Suspended?

Sony Pictures Television Studios said it had recently become aware of allegations involving the 61-year-old announcer.

'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 studio told TMZ.

No further details about the allegations were provided, leaving the circumstances behind Thornton's suspension unclear.

TMZ reported that the alleged incident arose after Thornton was aboard a commercial flight in May. However, Sony has not publicly confirmed that the reported flight incident was the reason Thornton was suspended.

Thornton Was Reportedly Questioned After May Flight

According to the report, Thornton was travelling on a commercial flight in May when another passenger complained about him to a flight attendant.

Sources with direct knowledge of the situation told the outlet that the pilot contacted authorities ahead of the aircraft's arrival and arranged for law enforcement to meet Thornton at the gate.

Officers subsequently questioned Thornton, who was reportedly wearing a Wheel of Fortune jacket at the time. He was eventually released, according to the report.

No information provided by Sony or American Airlines specified what the passenger allegedly complained about, and Thornton was not reported to have been arrested.

American Airlines Confirms Police Met Flight at LAX

American Airlines confirmed that authorities responded when a flight arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on 14 May.

'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 the outlet.

The airline did not provide further details about the nature of those concerns.

'Wheel of Fortune' Is Recasting Jim Thornton's Role

Thornton's suspension creates an immediate change for Wheel of Fortune, with Sony confirming that the announcer role is being recast during its investigation.

The studio has not identified a replacement or indicated how long Thornton's suspension could last. It also has not announced whether any decision has been made about his long-term future with the programme.

Thornton joined Wheel of Fortune in 2011 following the death of longtime announcer Charlie O'Donnell, who worked on the programme from 1975 to 1980 and again from 1989 until 2010.

Jim Thornton's 'Wheel of Fortune' History

Although Thornton is primarily heard rather than seen on Wheel of Fortune, viewers got a rare on-camera appearance from him during a 2023 episode after contestant Sarah Ward expressed her desire to meet the announcer.

Then-host Pat Sajak temporarily stepped into Thornton's announcing duties while Thornton appeared during the round.

Outside Wheel of Fortune, Thornton has also worked as an announcer on programmes including The Price Is Right and The Soup, and provided voice work for The Cleveland Show. His credits also include Pixar's Monsters, Inc., in which he voiced a commercial announcer.