Overview
- Sony Pictures Television confirmed on Friday, September 4, 2026, that Jim Thornton’s employment with Wheel of Fortune was terminated following a studio investigation.
- The action responds to an alleged May 14 incident on an American Airlines flight where a passenger photographed Thornton’s laptop and alerted crew, and law enforcement questioned him at LAX but did not arrest or charge him.
- TMZ published the passenger-supplied photos and screenshots this week that include timestamps suggesting about 57 minutes of activity, though multiple outlets note the images have not been independently authenticated.
- Thornton’s lawyer says he accessed the chatroom site accidentally while doing suicide-prevention advocacy, insists no illegal material was viewed, and reiterates that he was never charged.
- Producers have hired an interim announcer who revoiced Thornton’s parts for the season due to the show’s mid-September premiere, reflecting how corporate and production pressures can drive personnel moves separate from criminal findings.