‘Wheel of Fortune’ Announcer Jim Thornton Suspended, Position Will Be Recast

By Michael Schneider

Michael Schneider

Variety Editor at Large

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“Wheel of Fortune” announcer Jim Thornton has been suspended from the game show, producer Sony Pictures Television has confirmed.

The decision to remove Thornton, who has been with “Wheel of Fortune” since 2010 (and “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” since 2021), was first reported by TMZ. The website reported that the suspension came in light of an incident on a commercial flight in May, when a passenger told a flight attendant expressed concerns about Thornton. TMZ wrote that “sources with direct knowledge tell us the pilot called ahead to have law enforcement meet Thornton when they arrived at the gate.”

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