Jim Thornton, the announcer for Wheel of Fortune, has been suspended, with Sony Pictures Television recasting his role. The decision comes after allegations related to an airline incident.
Wheel of Fortune will recast Jim Thornton’s role
Sony Pictures Television confirmed Thornton’s suspension from the show. The studio is now temporarily recasting his role while they conduct an investigation. “We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton,” Sony Pictures Television told TMZ.
“He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune. We are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation,” the studio added. The allegations reportedly involve an American Airlines flight in May 2026.
A passenger reportedly complained about Thornton during the flight. The pilot then requested law enforcement to meet Thornton. American Airlines confirmed that authorities met the flight. He was questioned before eventually being released by authorities.
“On May 14, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) following concerns reported by a customer onboard,” the airline told Deadline.
The exact details surrounding the allegations remain unclear for now. Thornton has not publicly addressed the allegations so far. He has announced Wheel of Fortune since 2011 and also works on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune currently.
The host has been involved in over 2,200 episodes overall. Thornton originally replaced longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell, who passed away before he took over the role. He also has other television credits, including The Price Is Right, The Soup, and The Cleveland Show. For now, Sony’s investigation into Thornton remains ongoing.
Thornton’s Wheel of Fortune role will be recast for now. His replacement will remain in place during the investigation. There is no further update on his future currently.
