Longtime Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended while Sony Pictures Television investigates allegations that surfaced after a passenger reportedly photographed his laptop screen during a flight.
According to TMZ, the passenger said she saw Thornton viewing a chatroom that appeared to include disturbing discussions involving children during a May 14 American Airlines flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Los Angeles.
Passenger Report Led to Police Meeting the Plane
TMZ reported that the passenger alerted a flight attendant after seeing messages and images on Thornton’s screen. The pilot then contacted authorities, and law enforcement met the plane when it landed at Los Angeles International Airport, according to the report.
American Airlines confirmed that Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement after landing “following concerns reported by a customer onboard,” but the airline did not identify Thornton or specify the complaint.
Thornton was questioned and released. He has not been arrested or charged with a crime.
TMZ Reports Photos Show a Disputed Website
TMZ reported Thursday that photos taken by the passenger appeared to show Thornton on a website described as a forum for people experiencing pedophilic thoughts. The outlet said some visible messages included references to children, including alleged references to “cute boys,” a “little girl,” and the abbreviation “CP,” which the passenger interpreted as referring to child sexual abuse material.
Those allegations have not resulted in criminal charges.
Attorney Says Thornton Did Nothing Wrong
Thornton’s attorney, Allison Hart, denied that he engaged in illegal conduct. Hart told TMZ that Thornton has been involved in suicide-prevention advocacy after losing a close family member to suicide and had visited online chatrooms meant to help people struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Hart said an acquaintance in the suicide-prevention community sent Thornton a link to lifeline.chat, which he allegedly believed was connected to suicide-prevention resources because of its similar name. She said Thornton left after realizing what the site was.
TMZ reported that timestamps visible in the photos appear to span at least 57 minutes, creating a dispute over how long he remained on the website.
Hart insisted Thornton never viewed, downloaded, or consumed illegal child sexual abuse material and said the website itself did not contain unlawful material.
“In short, my client did nothing wrong,” Hart told TMZ.
Sony Investigation Continues
Sony Pictures Television has not publicly detailed the allegations. The studio said it became aware of allegations concerning Thornton and suspended him while it conducts a “thorough investigation.” The source report also said the announcer role is being recast.
Thornton, 61, has been the voice of Wheel of Fortune since 2011, when he succeeded Charlie O’Donnell after O’Donnell’s death. He has worked during the show’s recent eras with Pat Sajak and Ryan Seacrest.
For now, the key facts remain limited: Thornton has been suspended, he has not been charged, his attorney denies wrongdoing, and Sony’s investigation is ongoing.
