Wheel of Fortune Announcer Jim Thornton Suspended as Sony Investigates Allegations

Jim Thornton, the longtime announcer of Wheel of Fortune, has been suspended from the popular game show while Sony Pictures Television Studios investigates allegations involving him.

Thornton has been the voice of the long-running television program since 2011, but Sony confirmed that he has temporarily been removed from his role as the studio conducts an internal investigation.

“We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton,” Sony Pictures Television Studios said in a statement provided to PEOPLE. “He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.”

The studio did not reveal the specific nature of the allegations or provide additional details about what prompted the decision to suspend Thornton.

However, TMZ reported that the investigation may be connected to an alleged incident that occurred aboard a commercial flight in May 2026. According to the outlet, a passenger reportedly raised concerns about Thornton’s behavior to a flight attendant during the journey.

American Airlines separately confirmed that law enforcement met one of its flights after it arrived at Los Angeles International Airport.

“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,” the airline said in a statement to PEOPLE.

American Airlines did not identify Thornton as the person involved in the incident and did not disclose what concerns had allegedly been reported by the passenger.

As of the report, no additional details about the alleged incident had been made public. PEOPLE also contacted a representative for Thornton seeking comment regarding his suspension and the allegations.

Thornton has been a familiar part of Wheel of Fortune for more than 15 years. He officially joined the program as its announcer in 2011 following the death of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell in 2010.

O’Donnell had an extensive history with the iconic game show. He originally served as the program’s announcer from 1975 until 1980. He later returned to Wheel of Fortune in 1989 and remained in the position for more than two decades, continuing until his death.

Thornton eventually succeeded O’Donnell and became a recognizable voice for viewers of the syndicated game show, announcing contestants, prizes and other elements of the program.

His career, however, extends beyond Wheel of Fortune. Thornton has previously worked as an announcer on other television programs, including The Price Is Right and The Soup.

He has also built a career as a voice actor, lending his voice to animated and entertainment projects such as The Cleveland Show and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.

For now, Thornton’s future with Wheel of Fortune remains uncertain. Sony Pictures Television Studios has indicated that the announcer role is being recast while its investigation continues, but the company has not announced who will replace him or whether his suspension could become permanent.