Jim Thornton, the long-serving announcer on the US game show Wheel of Fortune, was photographed looking at a laptop during an American Airlines flight in May, as his suspension from the programme prompts an investigation into allegations concerning his conduct.
The 61-year-old was captured by a fellow passenger while travelling from Charlotte to Los Angeles. The images, obtained by the Daily Mail, appear to show material from an online chatroom that the passenger believed was linked to people with paedophilic thoughts.
The passenger reportedly alerted cabin crew after seeing the screen. American Airlines said Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement at Los Angeles International Airport on 14 May “following concerns reported by a customer on board”.
Thornton was questioned after landing but was not arrested or charged. His lawyer, Allison Hart, said officers spoke to him for five minutes or less before deciding that no wrongdoing had occurred.
Hart said Thornton had intended to access a suicide-prevention website after becoming involved in advocacy work following the death of a close family member. She said he had been sent a link to a different site without understanding its purpose and left after discovering the nature of the chatroom.
The lawyer also said the website was not unlawful and that Thornton had never viewed, downloaded or consumed child sexual abuse material. Thornton has denied engaging in illegal conduct.
Sony Pictures Television Studios has suspended Thornton while it carries out what it described as a “thorough investigation” and is recasting the announcer’s role on Wheel of Fortune.
Thornton had been the programme’s announcer since 2011. The show has continued to air pre-recorded episodes featuring him while producers consider how to handle forthcoming editions.
