Sony Fires Wheel of Fortune Announcer Jim Thornton

Sony has fired Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton after an incident on an American Airlines flight. “Following a thorough investigation, Jim Thornton’s employment with ‘Wheel of Fortune’ has been terminated, effective immediately,” the studio told Variety in a statement.

Sony has been cagey about what exactly was being thoroughly investigated, but TMZ claims Thornton was seen accessing a “chat room for pedophiles,” which was then reported to law enforcement. An attorney claiming to represent Thornton, Allison Hart, told TMZ Thornton had accidentally been sent to that chatroom thinking it was a suicide prevention chatline. She said Thornton has “become active in suicide-prevention advocacy since losing a close family member to suicide two years ago, and he has spent time visiting chat rooms offering support to individuals suffering from suicidal ideation.”

Thornton was suspended on Tuesday, although the flight on which the chatroom activity allegedly took place was back in May. All his lines on the upcoming season of Wheel have already been re-recorded by a new interim announcer. There is no word yet of a permanent replacement.

If you or anyone you know are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988.