Wheel of Fortune's Jim Thornton Fired Over In-Flight Chatroom Allegations

Former Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton was fired after an May in-flight incident in which a fellow passenger photographed him allegedly engaging in a pedophilia chatroom; TMZ published photos of the chatroom and a cryptic Google search Thornton appeared to type about “panic” after a flight attendant asked him to close his laptop. Thornton’s attorney said he did not commit any crime and was not charged, and officials reportedly found no wrongdoing; his team attributes confusion to a misdirected Lifeline site. Sony Pictures Television has terminated his employment and is recasting the show, while American Airlines confirmed law enforcement met the plane on arrival.