Sony Terminates Jim Thornton After Chatroom Investigation
Sony Pictures Television has terminated the employment of Jim Thornton, the long-time announcer for 'Wheel of Fortune,' following an investigation into alleged inappropriate online activity. The decision comes after TMZ published unauthenticated photos from a May flight, showing Thornton on a laptop. While his attorney claims he was engaged in suicide-prevention advocacy and briefly entered a chatroom for pedophilic thoughts by mistake, the studio has ended his contract. No criminal charges were filed, and the show is currently recasting the role.