Jim Thornton, the longtime announcer for Wheel of Fortune, has been suspended from the popular game show as an investigation into allegations involving him continues. Meanwhile, host Ryan Seacrest reportedly has no plans to step into the controversy.
According to Hollywood insider Rob Shuter, Seacrest is expected to keep his distance from the situation and continue working with the show as usual.
“Ryan doesn’t do drama,” a TV insider told Shuter’s Naughty But Nice. The source claimed Seacrest prefers to let network executives handle controversies rather than publicly defend or challenge anyone involved.
“Ryan protects Ryan,” the insider added, saying the television star is expected to focus on the show and work with whoever Sony Pictures Television chooses to replace Thornton.
Sony Pictures Television confirmed Thornton’s suspension to TMZ on September 1. The studio said it had recently become aware of allegations involving the announcer and that he had been suspended while the company conducted a “thorough investigation.”
The studio did not reveal details about the allegations at the time. TMZ later reported that the incident reportedly happened during a commercial flight in May 2026.
According to the report, a passenger raised concerns about Thornton with a flight attendant. The pilot then reportedly contacted authorities before the plane landed at Los Angeles International Airport. Thornton was questioned by police and released.
American Airlines confirmed that Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement on May 14 after concerns were reported by a passenger.
Thornton’s attorney strongly denied that his client had done anything illegal. In a statement to TMZ, the lawyer said Thornton was not arrested and has not been charged with a crime.
The attorney also claimed that officers spoke with Thornton for only a few minutes before deciding that no wrongdoing had occurred and allowing him to leave.
The controversy grew on September 3, when TMZ published photos that allegedly showed Thornton looking at a chatroom on his laptop during the flight. A passenger claimed she saw disturbing messages on the screen and reported what she saw to a flight attendant.
Thornton’s lawyer offered an explanation for why his client may have accessed the website. According to the attorney, Thornton became involved in suicide prevention efforts after losing a close family member to suicide and had spent time visiting online spaces connected to people experiencing suicidal thoughts.
The lawyer claimed Thornton regularly used the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website and said someone from a support group had sent him a link to another chatroom. According to the attorney, Thornton entered the site without realizing its nature and left after discovering what it was.
The lawyer further argued that the website itself was not illegal and insisted Thornton never viewed, downloaded or consumed child sexual abuse material.
For now, Thornton remains suspended from Wheel of Fortune, and the show is looking for a replacement while the investigation continues. Seacrest, meanwhile, is expected to remain focused on his role as host rather than become involved in the controversy surrounding his longtime colleague.