[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Wheel Of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton is out.
Sony Pictures Television Studios has terminated Thornton’s employment following an investigation into disturbing circumstances surrounding an alleged online chatroom incident on a commercial flight a few months back, TMZ reports.
Related: Lindsay Clancy Case: Family GoFundMe Has Raised HOW MUCH Money After Mistrial?!
A Sony spokesperson told the news outlet on Friday evening:
“Following a thorough investigation, Jim Thornton’s employment with Wheel of Fortune has been terminated, effective immediately.”
The decision comes days after TMZ was first to report that Thornton was flying an American Airlines flight to Los Angeles in May when another passenger allegedly saw his screen displaying what appeared to be a chatroom for people with pedophilic interests.
Photos allegedly showed multiple disturbing references to children, as well as repeated mentions of “CP,” which is online shorthand for child pornography. Cops investigated at the time — but it should be noted that Thornton has not been charged with a crime.
Still, the game show’s producers acted quickly after conducting their own investigation. An interim announcer is expected to be heard when the new season begins September 14, and Thornton has also been removed from the show’s social media channels, the news outlet reports.
Related: Judge Declares Mistrial In Lindsay Clancy Case After Jury Unable To Reach A Verdict
Thornton’s attorney had previously characterized the situation as a major misunderstanding. According to his lawyer, Thornton regularly visited a suicide-prevention chat forum to support people experiencing suicidal thoughts. However, in this case, Thornton claimed he was accidentally sent to a site intended for people experiencing pedophilic thoughts, and that he left once he realized the mistake.
However, timestamps visible in the photographs appeared to indicate Thornton remained in the chat for nearly an hour.
His attorney had no comment when contacted about Thornton’s firing, per TMZ.
It’s a deeply troubling situation. For now, Thornton’s long run connected to one of television’s most recognizable game shows has come to an abrupt end.
If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via Nicky Nelson/WENN]
