Big intrigue at Wheel of Fortune!!!

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Jim Thornton, the announcer of Wheel of Fortune since 2011, has been suspended.

A spokesperson from Sony Pictures Television confirmed the news to Entertainment Weekly.

Thornton joined the show in 2011.

A spokesperson from Sony Pictures Television tells Entertainment Weekly, “We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton. He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.”

The studio did not provide a reason for or length of the suspension.

TMZ, the first to report the news, said the suspension resulted from an alleged incident on a commercial airline flight Thornton was aboard. Another passenger allegedly complained about the TV star to a flight attendant.

The pilot then called law enforcement and had Thornton met upon arrival, sources with direct knowledge told the outlet. Thornton was questioned and released.

A source tells EW that the airline is fully cooperating with law enforcement.

In a statement to EW, American Airlines said, “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.”

EW was unable to contact Thornton.

Thornton joined the show, which is currently cohosted by Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White, in 2011. He also serves as the announcer for Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.

He worked with longtime host Pat Sajak until the latter’s retirement from the main show in June 2024 and from the celebrity edition one year later.

Sajak would routinely instruct Thornton to tell the contestants what they’d won after solving a word puzzle.

He began his broadcast career during college at Marshall University in 1983, according to his official bio from Paramount. He had his own morning show soon after on a San Fernando Valley radio station and worked at radio and TV stations in Los Angeles.

He’s also lent his voice to Monsters, Inc.; Celebrity Deathmatch; The Cleveland Show; and other projects.