Jim Thornton, the longtime Wheel of Fortune announcer, has been suspended from the popular game show amid unspecified allegations.
“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,” Sony Pictures Television said in a statement to TMZ, Variety and other media outlets on Tuesday, September 1.
TMZ was first to report Thornton’s suspension. The outlet reported that Thornton, 61, was involved in an incident on a commercial flight back in May, in which a passenger allegedly complained to a flight attendant about him. Thornton was reportedly met by law enforcement, questioned and later released upon disembarking the plane, TMZ said.
Thornton’s attorney told TMZ that he “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 has been Wheel of Fortune’s resident announcer since 2011, after he took over following the death of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell in 2010. He also serves as announcer on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which premiered in 2021 and airs in primetime on ABC.
Wheel of Fortune is hosted by Ryan Seacrest, who took over from Pat Sajak in September 2024, and Vanna White.
Sajak left the show in June 2024 after hosting the syndicated game show for over four decades and 8,000 episodes.
“Well, the time has come to say goodbye. I have a few thanks and acknowledgments before I go. And I want to start with all of you watching out there,” Sajak, 79, signed off his final episode. “It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade. And I’ve always felt that the privilege came with a responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun. No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game.”
“Pat, congratulations on an incredible run with Wheel of Fortune! Your dedication, charm, and wit have made the show a beloved part of American television for decades,” Seacrest, 51, shared in an Instagram tribute to Sajak at the time. “Your partnership with Vanna has been nothing short of iconic, and together, you’ve created countless wonderful memories for viewers. You’ve set the standard for hosts everywhere, and this marks the end of an era. Best wishes for all your future endeavors!”
