Wheel of Fortune suspends and fires announcer Jim Thornton amid investigation

Longtime Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton is suspended and later fired by Sony amid an internal investigation into a May incident on a commercial flight, as his lawyers dispute any wrongdoing.

2 stories122 sourcesUpdated Sep 5, 2026

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Sep 5, 2026
Sony Pictures Television suspends longtime Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton amid an investigation into a May incident on a commercial flight.
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Sep 5, 2026
Sony fires Jim Thornton after the investigation concludes, as his lawyers say he did nothing illegal and was not arrested.
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Sony Fires Wheel Announcer Jim Thornton After Investigation

Jim Thornton, the longtime Wheel of Fortune announcer, was suspended by Sony amid an internal investigation into a May American Airlines flight incident and related online activity; the company is recasting his announcing duties while the probe continues. Thornton’s lawyers say he did nothing illegal and was not arrested, with claims that he inadvertently visited a controversial site while seeking mental-health resources, as authorities reportedly found no crime.

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