Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton visited alleged 'pedophilia' chatroom on a plane before his suspension from show

Photos have emerged showing Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton looking at an alleged 'pedophilia' chatroom while on an airplane, leading to his suspension from the show. 

Thornton, 61, was pictured looking at a laptop screen during an American Airlines flight in May, in images taken by a fellow passenger and obtained by TMZ. 

A close-up of the computer screen shows disturbing messages, including one participant describing a restaurant as 'a nice hangout for kids', and mentioning a 'couple of cute boys and a hot little girl.'

Another unsettling message reads, 'All-you-can-eat Boyffet.' There is also a message referencing 'CP' which the passenger who took the photos believed to be short for 'child pornography.'

From the timestamps on the photos – which show Thornton wearing a Wheel of Fortune jacket – it appears he was in the chatroom for at least 57 minutes.

Thornton's lawyer, Allison Hart, told TMZ that the voice actor clicked on the site by mistake. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Thornton and Sony Pictures Television Studios for comment but has yet to hear back. 

Hart said that Thornton had '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.' 

Hart said that Thornton often visited a suicide prevention website named 988lifeline.org and its chat forum, chat.988lifeline.org. 

Thornton claims he was sent a link to a different chatroom, lifeline.chat, by an acquaintance from the suicide prevention group. The site is intended for people experiencing pedophilic thoughts. 

Thornton claims he left the chatroom after realizing what it was. 

His lawyer added that the website he visited is 'not unlawful, there is no unlawful child pornography or other pedophilic content, and my client never viewed, downloaded or consumed any child pornography whether on that commercial flight in May or at any other time.' 

Hart said that the announcer 'did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime.' 

The attorney claimed: 'When questioned about the complaint made by a fellow passenger on the flight, law enforcement spoke to him for five minutes or less, immediately determined that no wrongdoing had occurred and told my client he was free to go.' 

On Wednesday, it was reported by TMZ that Thornton is being cut out of the Wheel of Fortune's new season amid an investigation by Sony Pictures Television Studios. 

In a statement to the Daily Mail earlier this week, Sony said: 'We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton. He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.' 

According to TMZ, the Sony investigation stems from a commercial American Airlines flight Thornton took in May, during which another passenger allegedly complained about him to a flight attendant.

The plane's pilot arranged to have law enforcement waiting for Thornton once he reached the gate.

Thornton was questioned by the officers before he was allowed to go on his way. 

In a statement to the Daily Mail, American Airlines said: 'On May 14, American Airlines Flight 1276 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport following concerns reported by a customer onboard.'

Amid his suspension, Thornton appeared on Tuesday's pre-taped episode of Wheel of Fortune.

His tenure with the show began in 2011, when he replaced former announcer Charlie O'Donnell after his death in November 2010 at 78. 

Thornton is rarely seen on the show, which is currently hosted by Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest.

However, TMZ noted that in 2023 he filled in for then-host Pat Sajak to host a round of the competition because a contestant was hoping to meet him.

Thornton had a brief stint as an announcer on The Price Is Right in 2004. 

He's also done voice work in Disney-Pixar's film Monsters, Inc. and the video game adaptation of Wall-E. 

The live-action announcer is best known for appearing on the animated comedy The Cleveland Show and MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch.