Presenter Jim Thornton of the Wheel of Fortune program is removed due to suspicions in an internal investigation

Advertiser Jim Thornton was removed from the popular television show Wheel of Fortune, according to a report made on September 1, 2026.

Thornton, who has served as announcer for the long-running show since 2011, has been suspended by Sony Pictures Television Studios while the production company conducts an investigation into the allegations leveled against him.

In an official statement, Sony Pictures Television Studios stated: “We were recently made aware of allegations involving Jim Thornton. He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune, and we are recasting the role while we conduct a thorough investigation.”

Sony did not detail the nature of the allegations in its statement, a common procedure in internal investigations to ensure privacy and due process for all parties involved.

The portal TMZ reported that the allegations originated from an incident that occurred on board a commercial flight in May 2026, where a passenger allegedly complained about Thornton’s behavior to a flight attendant.

American Airlines, in a statement, stated: “On May 14, 2026, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by authorities at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) following concerns reported by a customer on board.”

The airline’s statement did not formally identify Jim Thornton, nor did it provide additional details about the alleged incident.

The report attempted to contact a Thornton representative to obtain a position, but there has been no response so far.

Thornton took over as Wheel of Fortune announcer in 2011, succeeding veteran Charlie O’Donnell, who had passed away the previous year, in 2010.

O’Donnell initially served as the show’s announcer between 1975 and 1980, returning in 1989 and remaining on the series until his death.

In addition to his work on Wheel of Fortune, Thornton has also contributed as an announcer to other productions, such as The Price Is Right and The Soup, and lent his voice to projects such as The Cleveland Show and Monsters, Inc.