Jim Thornton, the announcer for "Wheel of Fortune," has been suspended from the show pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct on an American Airlines flight in May. Thornton's attorney stated that his client "did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime."
According to a spokesperson for Sony Pictures Television Studios, the company is aware of the allegations and is recasting the announcer role during the investigation. Thornton has been the announcer for "Wheel of Fortune" since 2011.
The incident reportedly occurred on American Airlines Flight 1276 on May 14, when a fellow passenger complained about Thornton's behavior. Law enforcement met Thornton at the gate upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport. "On May 14, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport following concerns reported by a customer onboard," the airline confirmed.
Thornton's attorney told TMZ that law enforcement spoke with Thornton for less than five minutes, determined no wrongdoing had occurred, and allowed him to leave. The airline has not commented further on the specifics of the complaint.
Thornton, 61, began his tenure as the announcer for "Wheel of Fortune" and "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" in 2011, succeeding Charlie O'Donnell. Prior to his work on the popular game show, Thornton provided voiceovers for various television programs, including "Celebrity Death Match," "The Cleveland Show," and Pixar's "Monsters, Inc." He also served as an announcer for "The Price is Right" and "Jeopardy!" and has been associated with KNX 1070 news radio since 1985. His career has been recognized with accolades such as the Edward R. Murrow award and an Emmy.