‘Wheel of Fortune’s Jim Thornton Suspended After Allegedly Accessing Disturbing Website

Erin MaxwellFri, September 4, 2026 at 12:39 AM UTC

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CELEBRITY WHEEL OF FORTUNE - "Ilana Glazer, Chelsea Peretti and Moshe Kasher" - Celebrity contestants spin to win for charity with Ilana Glazer (SisterSong), Chelsea Peretti ('inja Momona) and Moshe Kasher (Surfrider Foundation). Pat Sajak hosts alongside Vanna White. TUESDAY, MAY 27 (8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Eric McCandless) JIM THORNTON (Photo by Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images) - Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images

Warning: The following post contains discussions of lewd acts involving minors.

New details have emerged about the incident that led to Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton‘s suspension from the show, including what a fellow airline passenger allegedly saw on his laptop and his attorney’s explanation for how he ended up on the concerning website.

According to TMZ, Thornton was on an American Airlines flight from Charlotte to Los Angeles in May when another passenger saw what she described as “disturbing messages and images” on his laptop.

The passenger believed it was a chatroom for people with pedophilic interests, took pictures of Thornton visiting the site, and alerted the flight crew. The captain contacted authorities, and law enforcement met Thornton when the plane landed at LAX. He was questioned and then allowed to leave.

Thornton’s attorney Allison Hart told TMZ that Thornton became involved in suicide-prevention advocacy after losing a close family member to suicide two years ago and had spent time in online forums offering support to people experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Wheel Of Fortune/YouTube

According to Hart, Thornton was sent a link by an acquaintance to a separate site for people with pedophilic thoughts. Thornton claims he left after realizing what the site.

TMZ reports timestamps appeared to show he was in the room for at least 57 minutes.

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His attorney stressed that the site itself is not illegal and denied that Thornton viewed, downloaded, or consumed illicit materials. She also stated Thornton was never arrested or charged with a crime. “In short, my client did nothing wrong,” she said.

The incident subsequently led to Thornton’s suspension from Wheel of Fortune.

Thornton joined Wheel of Fortune in 2011 after the passing of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell. He also announces the primetime spinoff Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.

Despite having already filmed a handful of Wheel of Fortune shows for Season 44, it was reported that producers are working hard to remove announcer Jim Thornton from the episodes after his incident on a plane.

If you or someone you know is the victim of child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453). If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual assault, contact the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network‘s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”