The game show “Wheel of Fortune” will recast its announcer after suspending Jim Thornton, who has long held the position.
Sony Pictures Television studio said in a statement to various media outlets that “we have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton,” and “we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.” The company has not specified the nature of the allegations.
Asked about reports that an incident involving Thornton occurred on an American Airlines flight, the airline sent this statement to The Washington Post: “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 on board.”
The airline did not identify Thornton as a passenger on the flight. It also referred to law enforcement, which did not immediately respond to The Post’s inquiry.
Thornton, who has a long career in broadcast news and was also a substitute announcer for “The Price is Right,” has been the official announcer for “Wheel” since 2011. “I’ve always wanted to do this,” he told his hometown newspaper when he got the gig. “It is exciting, it almost doesn’t seem real.”
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The post ‘Wheel of Fortune’ suspends announcer over unspecified ‘allegations’ appeared first on Washington Post.
