Jim Thornton Fired From ‘Wheel of Fortune’ After Pedophilic Chat Room Incident
Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton has been fired from the long-running game show.
According to TMZ , Sony Pictures Television Studios officially let the 61-year-old go on Friday, September 4, after Thornton was believed to be in an online chat room that appeared to discuss pedophilic thoughts.
"Following a thorough investigation, Jim Thornton's employment with Wheel of Fortune has been terminated, effective immediately," a Sony spokesperson told the outlet.
Thornton's firing comes just days after the show suspended the TV personality, and just one day after TMZ posted photos that appeared to show Thornton in the aforementioned chat room while on an American Airlines flight in May from Charlotte to Los Angeles.
According to the outlet, a passenger saw him in the forum, with one message that allegedly read, "Couple of cute boys and a hot little girl," and another that said, "All-you-can-eat Boyfett."
Jim Thornton/Facebook
Another message reportedly included the abbreviation "CP," which may refer to child pornography. Although it's unclear what Thornton was typing or doing in the chat, records reviewed by TMZ reportedly indicate he remained on the site for quite some time, which appears to conflict with his attorney's claim that he left immediately, as timestamps provided by the outlet show that he allegedly spent at least 57 minutes there.
TMZ reported that a passenger notified a flight attendant, and the matter was escalated to authorities, resulting in Thornton being detained at LAX and questioned before ultimately being released.
In a statement to Page Six following the suspension, Thornton's attorney, Allison Hart, said that he mistakenly accessed lifeline.chat after believing it was connected to the suicide-prevention site 988lifeline.org .
"My client 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," she said.
Hart explained that Thornton was familiar with 988lifeline.org and its forum, chat.988lifeline.org , and allegedly ended up on lifeline.chat after an acquaintance in the suicide-prevention community directed him there.
According to Hart, Thornton left the site once he realized what it was and has not returned.
Jim Thornton/Facebook
"When my client understood what the website was about, he left the page and has not visited since," she said. "The website lifeline.chat itself is not unlawful, there is no unlawful child pornography or other pedophilic content, and my client has never viewed, downloaded or consumed any child pornography, whether on that commercial flight in May or at any other time."
She also said law enforcement determined that no crime had been committed.
"It is for that reason that my client was never arrested or charged with a crime," she said. "Law enforcement immediately confirmed that no crime had occurred and immediately told my client he was free to go. In short, my client did nothing wrong."
Neither Thornton nor his attorney has yet to issue a comment after Friday's firing.
As Closer previously reported , TMZ sources familiar with the situation said early episodes from the upcoming Wheel of Fortune season, which will premiere Monday, September 14, are being edited with a new announcer.
Read More From Closer Weekly
This story Jim Thornton Fired From 'Wheel of Fortune' After Pedophilic Chat Room Incident first appeared on Closer Weekly . Follow Closer Weekly on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
