“Wheel of Fortune” announcer Jim Thornton is suspended from the game show while Sony Pictures Television investigates an alleged incident involving him, and the role will be recast in the meantime.
Multiple outlets report that Sony says it has recently become aware of allegations concerning Thornton. Deadline adds that the allegations stem from an incident on an American Airlines flight in May, though what occurred is not publicly detailed. Variety and other reports note Thornton has been a fixture on the program since 2010 and also serves as the announcer for “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” (which began in 2021).
Outlets agree on the core steps—suspension, an internal investigation, and a temporary recasting of the announcing duties. They differ mainly in emphasis: some focus on the studio’s confirmation and the announcement that a replacement will be used, while one outlet first reported the suspension and another highlights the timing and airline context of the alleged May incident. All accounts indicate details of the allegations have not been fully disclosed.
