“Wheel of Fortune” announcer Jim Thornton has been fired by Sony Pictures Television after the studio completed an investigation into allegations stemming from photos showing him viewing a support chat room for people with pedophilic thoughts during a commercial flight to Los Angeles.
Sony terminated Thornton’s employment effective immediately Friday, Sept. 4, three days after suspending the longtime announcer and announcing that his role would be recast. Producers had already begun re-editing the first month of the show’s upcoming season to replace Thornton’s announcing work. Season 44 premieres Sept. 14.
Thornton, 61, says he entered the website by mistake while looking for suicide prevention resources. His attorney says he left after realizing what the forum was about, although timestamps in photos published by TMZ reportedly span at least 57 minutes.
The incident occurred May 14 aboard American Airlines Flight 1276 from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Los Angeles. A fellow passenger reportedly noticed Thornton’s laptop screen, took photographs, and alerted a flight attendant.
The passenger provided the images to the crew. Authorities met the aircraft after it landed at Los Angeles International Airport.
Photos published by TMZ appear to show Thornton on lifeline.chat, a support forum for people experiencing pedophilic thoughts. Messages visible on the screen reportedly included sexualized references to children and references to “CP,” which the passenger believed meant child pornography.
Thornton’s attorney, Allison Hart, said he became involved in suicide prevention advocacy after losing a close family member two years ago and had used online resources for people experiencing suicidal thoughts.
According to Hart, an acquaintance involved in suicide prevention directed Thornton to lifeline.chat, which he initially believed offered support similar to other crisis resources he had visited. Hart said Thornton exited after understanding the nature of the site and has not returned.
Hart also denied that Thornton has ever viewed, downloaded, or consumed child sexual abuse material.
American Airlines confirmed that Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement at LAX after a passenger reported concerns onboard. Thornton was questioned after the flight and allowed to leave. He was not arrested, and no criminal charges have been publicly announced in connection with the incident.
Federal law criminalizes knowingly receiving, distributing, or possessing child sexual abuse material, as well as knowingly accessing such material with the intent to view it. No criminal case against Thornton has been publicly announced.
Thornton had served as the voice of “Wheel of Fortune” since 2011, succeeding longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell. He remained with the game show through Pat Sajak’s retirement and Ryan Seacrest’s arrival as host alongside Vanna White.
The firing ends Thornton’s 15-year run with “Wheel of Fortune” less than two weeks before the show begins its 44th season.
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