A game show announcer was ousted from his position following an investigation into an incident aboard an American Airlines flight, Sony Pictures Television confirmed.
Jim Thornton had served for 15 years as the voice of Wheel of Fortune.
On May 14, another passenger on a flight to Los Angeles reportedly saw Thornton on his laptop viewing an online chatroom involving people who experience sexual attraction to children.
The passenger photographed the screen and alerted airline flight staff to what was displayed, according to the report.
Law enforcement officers met Thornton when the plane touched down at Los Angeles International Airport. But the announcer was never arrested or charged with a crime in connection with the flight, according to the report.
Officers spoke with Thornton for less than five minutes, determined no wrongdoing had occurred and allowed him to leave, his attorney said.
An explanation exists for what the fellow passenger witnessed on the laptop screen, his attorney said.
Thornton had been actively involved in suicide-prevention advocacy following a family tragedy, according to his defense.
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The announcer had been attempting to access mental-health resources online when he clicked the wrong link, his attorney said.
Thornton unintentionally entered the chatroom as a result of the mistaken click, his defense stated. He reportedly exited the site immediately after realizing what the chatroom was.
Photographs of his laptop screen aboard the aircraft later surfaced publicly.
On Sept. 1, Sony suspended Thornton while studio officials conducted an investigation into the matter.
Three days later, the announcer was fired.
Sony Pictures Television confirmed on Friday that Thornton’s employment was “terminated, effective immediately” following its investigation.
The announcer had worked on Wheel of Fortune since 2011, succeeding longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell. His 15-year career at one of television’s biggest game shows is now over.
Thornton faced no criminal charges and was never placed under arrest by law enforcement, according to the report.
His attorney maintained that the visit to the chatroom was an accidental click and that police permitted him to leave after determining no wrongdoing had occurred.
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