“Wheel of Fortune” Fired Jim Thornton

"Wheel of Fortune" Fired Jim Thornton

Either the producers of “Wheel of Fortune” don’t believe Jim Thornton’s story about accidentally ending up in a chat room associated with pedophilia, or they just don’t care.  Because they FIRED him.

Thornton had been the show’s announcer since 2011 . . . but he was suspended last week after it came to light that he’d been reported by a fellow passenger on a flight back in May.

The woman saw Thornton’s laptop screen, which appeared to show him in the chatroom.  But after Thornton spoke to police, they let him go.  He wasn’t charged with a crime.

Thornton’s attorney said he’s active in the suicide prevention community, and had been inadvertently sent to a support site for people with pedophilic thoughts . . . and as soon as he realized that, he logged out.

But “Wheel of Fortune” producers issued a statement on Friday saying, quote, “Following a thorough investigation, Jim Thornton’s employment with ‘Wheel of Fortune’ has been terminated, effective immediately.”