Jim Thornton denies wrongdoing after 'Wheel of Fortune' suspension

Jim Thornton has denied allegations of wrongdoing following his suspension from the long-running game show 'Wheel of Fortune'. The television personality is currently kept away from the programme while Sony Pictures Television investigates the matter.The allegations reportedly concern an incident that took place aboard a commercial flight in May. Jim Thornton's attorney has maintained that his client did not commit any crime. The lawyer also said that Jim Thornton was not arrested or charged following the incident.

Jim Thornton's attorney rejects allegations

Jim Thornton's legal representative has strongly disputed the allegations against the announcer. According to the attorney, law enforcement briefly questioned Thornton after another passenger made a complaint during the flight.Thornton “did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime,” his attorney said in a statement given to TMZ. The lawyer also provided an account of the interaction between Thornton and authorities after the aircraft reached its destination. He said officers determined there had been no wrongdoing.“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,” Thornton’s attorney continued.

Sony Pictures Television suspends announcer

Sony Pictures Television confirmed on September 1 that Jim Thornton had been suspended from 'Wheel of Fortune'. The studio said it was conducting an investigation into the allegations.The production company also confirmed in a statement given to PEOPLE that another announcer would temporarily take over Thornton's duties. Sony Pictures Television has not revealed the specific nature of the allegations. “He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation,” the studio said in the statement.The investigation comes as the studio examines the circumstances surrounding the reported May incident. Jim Thornton's future with the programme will depend on the outcome of that process.

May flight incident reportedly led to complaint

The allegations reportedly originated from an incident involving Jim Thornton during a commercial flight in May. TMZ reported that another passenger complained to a flight attendant while the aircraft was in transit. The flight later arrived at Los Angeles International Airport. Law enforcement officers met the aircraft after it landed following the reported concern.American Airlines confirmed that officers responded to an issue involving a passenger. However, the airline did not identify Jim Thornton in its statement or disclose further details about the complaint.“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,” American Airlines said in a statement.

Jim Thornton has long association with 'Wheel of Fortune'

Jim Thornton became the announcer of 'Wheel of Fortune' after the death of Charlie O'Donnell in 2010. Charlie O'Donnell had been associated with the programme for several decades. Charlie O'Donnell first worked on 'Wheel of Fortune' from 1975 to 1980. He returned to the show in 1989 and continued in the role until his death.Jim Thornton subsequently became one of the familiar voices of the game show. His television credits list him as announcer on more than 2,200 episodes of 'Wheel of Fortune'. He has also been associated with 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'. Jim Thornton has served as announcer on the celebrity version since 2021.Jim Thornton's work in television goes beyond the popular game show. He has worked as a traffic reporter on 'Channel 2 Action News' since 1996.His other television credits include 'The Price Is Right', 'The Soup', 'Celebrity Deathmatch', 'The Cleveland Show' and 'Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!'. In 2004, Jim Thornton appeared as a try-out announcer on 'The Price Is Right'. He later worked as an announcer on 'The Soup' and 'The Cleveland Show'.