Jim Thornton has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune, and Sony Pictures Television says it is recasting the announcer role while it conducts a thorough investigation. The move, announced Sept. 1, puts one of the show’s longest-serving voices in limbo just as Season 44 is set to begin.
For viewers searching now, the timing is the point. Wheel of Fortune is airing reruns ahead of the premiere of Season 44 on Monday, Sept. 14, so the suspension lands before the show returns with new episodes. Thornton has been with Wheel of Fortune since 2010 and became the official replacement for Charlie O'Donnell in 2011; he also became the announcer for Celebrity Wheel of Fortune in 2021.
Sony said it had recently become aware of allegations concerning Thornton and responded by suspending him and recasting while the company investigates. His lawyer has sharply contested the fallout, saying Thornton did not engage in illegal conduct, was not arrested and has not been charged with any crime. The lawyer also said law enforcement spoke with him for five minutes or less and immediately determined that no wrongdoing had occurred before he was told he was free to go.
There is, however, a confirmed complaint at the center of the matter. confirmed a complaint was made on a May 14 flight, and an American Airlines spokesperson said American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport after concerns were reported by a customer onboard. That is the complaint that triggered the internal review, even as the reason for Sony’s suspension and the exact findings of the investigation remain unresolved.
What is clear today is that Thornton’s standing with the show has changed, and what happens next depends on the inquiry Sony says is still underway. If the company clears him, the question becomes whether he returns to the booth after the recasting gap; if it does not, Wheel of Fortune is already moving on without him.
