Wheel of Fortune Scrubbing Jim Thornton From New Season Episodes Amid Sony Investigation

Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended by Sony amid an investigation into a complaint made by a fellow airline passenger.

Jim Thornton, the longtime announcer for Wheel of Fortune, has been suspended while Sony conducts an investigation into an incident involving a complaint made by a fellow passenger on a flight. Beyond the suspension, Sony Pictures Television Studios is now actively editing Thornton out of episodes that had already been taped for the upcoming new season, with sources indicating at least the first month of new episodes are being scrubbed of his voice. Thornton's attorney told TMZ that the announcer 'did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime.' The attorney added that when law enforcement questioned Thornton about the passenger complaint, he cooperated fully. The specific nature of the complaint and the details of the alleged incident have not been publicly disclosed. Sony has not released a detailed statement explaining the grounds for the suspension beyond the existence of an ongoing investigation. Despite the initial suspension, Thornton had appeared in previously taped episodes that aired, but the production is now taking steps to remove his presence from future broadcasts.

Why it matters

Thornton has been a fixture on one of television's longest-running game shows, and his suspension raises questions about the show's production going forward. The case highlights how off-set incidents can prompt immediate action from studios even before any legal process concludes.

What's next

The outcome of Sony's internal investigation will likely determine whether Thornton returns to his role on the show.

Key facts

• Jim Thornton is the announcer for Wheel of Fortune, a long-running Sony-produced game show
• Sony has suspended Thornton and launched an internal investigation
• The incident involves a complaint made by a fellow passenger on a flight
• Thornton's attorney confirmed he was not arrested and has not been charged with any crime
• Thornton appeared in a Tuesday episode of the show that had been pre-taped before the suspension
• Both sources are from a single outlet, TMZ, and appear to be the same report published under two headlines

Bias & framing notes

Both sources are from a single outlet, TMZ, and appear to be near-identical versions of the same report — no independent corroboration exists. The specific nature of the complaint is unverified and undisclosed. TMZ's reporting is based primarily on a statement from Thornton's own attorney, meaning only one side of the incident is represented.

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