“Wheel of Fortune” is set to undergo a major production change as a key employee faces allegations of wrongdoing.
Veteran announcer Jim Thornton has officially been fired from the long-running game show following a suspension.
His suspension was announced last week amid a pending investigation into unspecified allegations involving the man who served as the steady voice of “Wheel of Fortune” for the past 15 years.
Thorton became the game show’s official announcer in 2011 after taking over for the late Charlie O’Donnell.
But his dismissal comes after merely four days public reports of behavior on a plane.
Sony Pictures Television announced his firing in a statement shared with the Daily Mail on Sept. 8.
“Following a thorough investigation, Jim Thornton’s employment with Wheel of Fortune has been terminated, effective immediately,” said a company spokesperson.
In another statement, Sony confirmed it had “recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton.”
The outlet has now confirmed that “On May 14, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) following concerns reported by a customer onboard.”
TMZ was the first to report an incident that occurred in May while Thornton was on a commercial flight with American Airlines.
According to the outlet, a passenger complained about Thornton to a flight attendant. The request was serious enough that the pilot called ahead and asked law enforcement to meet Thornton at the gate.
1- Wheel of Fortune announcer fired after laptop incident on plane. Sony Pictures Television has fired longtime "Wheel of Fortune" announcer Jim Thornton over an incident on a Los Angeles-bound flight involving his participation in an online chatroom. pic.twitter.com/Y3GljQ7fbk
— Howard Prince (@Howodd69) September 5, 2026
The 61-year-old Thornton was wearing a “Wheel of Fortune” jacket at the time and spoke to officers upon arriving at Los Angeles International Airport.
Thornton’s attorney issued a statement to TMZ, saying the announcer, “did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime.”
The attorney continued, “When questioned about the complaint made by a fellow passenger on the flight, law enforcement spoke to him for five minutes or less, immediately determined that no wrongdoing had occurred and told my client he was free to go.”
However, photos allegedly show Thornton viewing a wild chatroom on said flight. The Daily Mail obtained photos allegedly taken by a passenger who reported Thornton to a flight attendant.
Photos also show Thornton using Google AI on his phone after shutting his laptop. Amid the public backlash, he has deleted his Facebook account.
Fans responded on TMZ’s page. One person asked, “This makes no sense! Why would he wear his Wheel Of Fortune jacket on a plane? He doesn’t have another suit jacket??”
Another person typed, “It’s completely ridiculous how these companies fire and suspend people before they have been convicted of anything.” Two others replied, “Innocent until proven guilty?” and “That is insane.”
Thornton succeeded legendary voice Charlie O’Donnell in 2011. He became only the fourth primary announcer in “Wheel of Fortune” history.
O’Donnell handled the broadcast across two stints, from 1975 to 1980 and again from 1989 to 2010.
Thornton also brought years of voiceover experience to the job. The former Los Angeles news anchor guest-announced on “The Price Is Right” and voiced characters on “Celebrity Deathmatch” and “The Cleveland Show.”
Thornton’s firing now marks the end of his 15-year run as the voice behind one of television’s most recognizable game shows.
Sony has not disclosed the specific allegations that led to the investigation or termination. Thornton’s attorney has also denied any illegal conduct.
For now, his sudden exit leaves “Wheel of Fortune” without the familiar voice that viewers have heard for more than a decade.