'Wheel of Fortune' Announcer Fired After Laptop Incident on Plane
Sony Pictures Television fired the longtime announcer after a passenger reported laptop photos that showed a chatroom describing support for pedophilic thoughts.
- Sony Pictures Television fired longtime Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton on Friday following an internal investigation into allegations concerning his conduct aboard a commercial flight.
- The investigation followed reports surfacing earlier this week featuring photographs taken aboard an American Airlines flight on May 14, which appeared to show the 61-year-old using a laptop to access a chatroom while traveling from Charlotte to Los Angeles.
- Thornton's attorney, Allison Hart, said he intended to visit suicide-prevention site 988lifeline.org but reached the wrong forum by mistake, adding he has "become active in suicide-prevention advocacy since losing a close family member to suicide two years ago."
- With the September 14 premiere approaching, the production team scrambled to maintain continuity; an interim announcer re-recorded all announcements for the upcoming 44th season without Thornton's voice.
- Authorities met the aircraft at Los Angeles International Airport, but Thornton was not arrested or charged with a crime; his counsel maintains the website contained no illegal material and he never viewed child pornography.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Sony has fired Jim Thornton after investigating images taken during a flight in which he appears before a chat related to paedophilia. Veteran announcer denies any illegal behavior
Wheel of Fortune Announcer Jim Thornton Fired by Sony After Investigation
Sony Pictures Television has ended its relationship with longtime Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton after completing an internal review of serious allegations that first surfaced earlier this week. The studio confirmed that Thornton’s employment on the long-running syndicated game show has been terminated immediately, according to a report by Variety. Viewers will not hear […]
Wheel of Fortune Announcer Jim Thornton Says Suicide-Prevention Search Took Him to Pedophilia Chatroom
Jim Thornton says a suicide-prevention search mistakenly led him to a chatroom for people with pedophilic thoughts, but photographs have raised questions about the incident.
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