Jim Thornton, the announcer for "Wheel of Fortune," has been fired from the show following an incident in May where he was photographed on a flight looking at a chatroom reportedly containing pedophilic content. Sony Pictures Television confirmed Thornton's termination after an internal investigation.
Thornton, 61, was photographed by a fellow passenger on an American Airlines flight with his laptop displaying what appeared to be a chatroom with disturbing messages. Images obtained by the Daily Mail showed messages such as "All-you-can-eat Boyffet" and "a nice hangout for kids."
Thornton's attorney, Allison Hart, stated that Thornton mistakenly accessed the site, lifeline.chat, which is intended for individuals experiencing pedophilic thoughts. She explained that Thornton is involved in suicide-prevention advocacy and frequently visits the suicide prevention website 988lifeline.org. An acquaintance from this group reportedly sent him a link to lifeline.chat by mistake. According to his lawyer, Thornton left the chatroom upon realizing its nature.
Hart emphasized that the website visited is not unlawful and does not contain child pornography. She also stated that Thornton did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and was not charged with any crime. Law enforcement officers met the flight upon arrival in Los Angeles after a customer complaint, questioned Thornton briefly, and determined no wrongdoing occurred, allowing him to leave. American Airlines confirmed that law enforcement met the flight following concerns reported by a customer.
Despite the circumstances, a former "Wheel of Fortune" contestant, Joshua Beach, has publicly defended Thornton. Beach, who appeared on the show in October 2022, posted on Facebook calling Thornton one of his "heroes" and expressing discomfort with what he described as the internet rushing to judgment. He acknowledged that some of the reported content was disturbing but urged caution before complete condemnation.
"I'm not saying I know Jim is innocent," Beach wrote. "I wasn't on that airplane, I haven't seen every piece of evidence, and I don't know what was in his head. But the people calling him a pedophile with absolute certainty don't know those things either."
Beach highlighted that law enforcement questioned Thornton and did not arrest or charge him, stating that "that distinction matters." He argued for the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" and the importance of withholding judgment until the full truth is known.
Thornton began his tenure as "Wheel of Fortune" announcer in 2011, succeeding Charlie O'Donnell. He is also known for his voice work in films like "Monsters, Inc." and "Wall-E." In 2023, he briefly filled in for host Pat Sajak. His Facebook account, previously public and featuring behind-the-scenes content, was no longer accessible after his termination. His name and photos were also removed from the show's social media channels.