9/3/2026 4:42 PM PT -- TMZ has obtained photos of pedophilia chatroom messages that led to his suspension.
9:45 PM PT -- Jim Thornton's attorney tells TMZ ... the announcer "did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime. 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."
8:43 PM PT -- Jim Thorntonjustappeared on this evenings pre-taped episode of "Wheel of Fortune."
Jim Thornton -- the longtime "Wheel of Fortune" announcer -- has been suspended by Sony Pictures Television Studios ... TMZ has learned.
The studio tells TMZ ... “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.”
Sony Pictures Television did not provide a reason for his suspension from the show.
However, we've learned the alleged incident arose while Thornton was on a commercial flight back in May, and a passenger complained to a flight attendant about Thornton.
Michael Bay says he had a rare conversation with Shia LaBeouf just a few months ago that focused on family and the incredible franchise they built together.
The legendary action movie director sat down with TMZ's Charlie Neff for a wide-ranging interview that touched on the "Transformers" star, who has run into a series of legal issues over the last decade-plus.
Just this year alone, Shia has made headlines for being arrested down in New Orleans around Mardi Gras and for saying just that he drinks "daily" despite previously going through rehab.
Paul Pierce was ordered to pay his baby mama, Princess Santiago, monthly child support for their son … but it was a far cry from what she was asking him to pay ... TMZ has learned.
According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Paul was ordered to pay his ex $8,508 per month for his son, King Rafael Santiago Pierce. The judge did note the order is temporary, and the court still has the authority to change the child support amount as the case proceeds.
In addition, Paul will have to cough up $100K for his ex’s legal fees in the case ... and another $10K for her to retain a forensic accountant.
Novak Djokovic puked on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court, cramped up, cried, and lost a grueling 5-set match just two days ago ... so, when we saw the tennis GOAT out in NYC, we asked the obvious question -- how are ya feeling?!
"Better. Bit better. A bit better," the 39-year-old tennis legend told TMZ Sports out in the Big Apple on Tuesday ... less than 48 hours after he battled illness during the 4-hour, 36-minute marathon against unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone.
It was the first time Djokovic lost in the opening round of the U.S. Open ... but it wasn't as simple as him playing bad tennis.
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Novak was sick -- he vomited multiple times during the match.
Celebrity hairstylist and Jeffrey Epstein’s friend Frédéric Fekkai has been accused of grooming girls to look "as young as possible" for the billionaire and facilitate his crimes ... TMZ has learned.
According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, 7 different alleged victims claim they were sent to Fekkai for salon services that were dictated by Epstein.
The complaint doesn't mince words, claiming "Fekkai groomed the victims to look as young as possible under Epstein's direction."
The father of the 14-year-old murder suspect on the run released a music video last year ... and it will certainly raise some eyebrows given the charges he's facing.
Here's the deal ...Sergio Galvez Perezreleased a video last year for his song "Eres Princesa Como la Rosa" -- in which he's got his hands all over what looks like a fairly young girl, who we have confirmed is not his daughter.
In the video, he appears to touch her hands and face -- including in one scene where the two are standing in what looks like a motel room.
Rep. Jonathan Jackson says Tupac Shakur's murder verdict brought back a night he'll never forget ... the night he saw Pac clinging to life.
Charlie caught up with the Illinois congressman on Capitol Hill Tuesday after Duane "Keffe D" Davis was found guilty of first-degree murder in Tupac's 1996 killing.
Jackson says he was at the Mike Tyson fight that night with his father, Rev. Jesse Jackson ... and the two later went to the hospital, where Jonathan saw Tupac in "pretty bad shape."
9/2/2026 1:23 PM PT --Lionel Richie is back home recovering after a short stint in the hospital.
Lionel Richieremains hospitalized in a St. Louis intensive care unit as doctors check out his ticker ... TMZ has learned.
Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Lionel is undergoing testing for cardiac-related issues. We're told he's expected to be released from the hospital Wednesday.
A man named DaeJohn Love says he’s been getting a surprising amount of attention after people confused him with the Daejon Love, who's accused of pretending to be a San Francisco 49ers player ... but the attention ain't all that bad.
DaeJohn tells TMZ ... he’s been getting plenty of new followers, engagement and even brand inquiries after the story about Daejon Love -- who is currently facing charges over allegations he impersonated a 49ers player to scam women -- sent people searching social media for the wrong guy.
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DaeJohn says the mix-up was initially pretty confusing, with people reaching out asking if he was the man at the center of the allegations ... but once they realized they had the wrong Love, he says the reaction was mostly curiosity rather than negativity.
Ben Affleck appears to be the mystery man behind the graffiti plastered across Aflac's insurance billboards in Los Angeles ... TMZ has learned.
TMZ has obtained photos of Ben tagging a billboard in an L.A. alleyway Tuesday ... appearing to spray-paint his name across the bright blue Aflac ad.
The images come one week after we obtained photos showing "BEN AFFLECK" scrawled in black, spray-paint-style lettering across Aflac's logo on billboards at several busy L.A. intersections.
Rep. Mike Lawler isn't shy about his Michael Jackson fandom ... and says the jury that acquitted the King of Pop in 2005 absolutely got it right.
Jacob caught up with the New York congressman on Capitol Hill Tuesday and asked about a wild chapter from Lawler's past -- he actually attended part of Jackson's criminal trial as a high schooler.
Lawler says he was helping biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli with research at the time and ended up inside the Santa Maria courtroom, where Jackson was facing child molestation and other charges.
Kim Zolciak has been making in-person visits to her son, Kroy "KJ" Biermann Jr., following his recent arrest for alleged aggravated sodomy and aggravated sexual battery ... TMZ has learned.
Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Kim has visited KJ multiple times since he was taken into custody. We're told Kim’s most recent visit was Tuesday with her daughter, Brielle Biermann.
As TMZ reported ... KJ remains behind bars following his August 17 arrest over allegations made by a teenage female classmate. Sources tell us KJ is doing the best he can while he remains behind bars.
Famous Dex had the cop arresting him sounding more like a fan ... with the officer marveling over Dex's Las Vegas show before the two actually fist-bumped.
TMZ obtained body cam footage from Dex's August 23 domestic battery arrest, and things get surprisingly chummy when the rapper tells the officer he was supposed to perform that night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
"Bro, you're performing at the Grand Arena?" the cop asks, sounding impressed.
Rep. Nancy Mace may be running out the clock on Congress ... but she's nowhere near done running up her tattoo count.
Charlie caught up with the South Carolina congresswoman on Capitol Hill Tuesday, where Nancy showed up with her pup, Millie ... then quickly got down to the other new additions she's planning -- tattoos.
Mace says she's already got far more than nine tats and still wants to finish her half-sleeves ... though she's resisting going full sleeve so she can cover everything up when duty calls.
Alanis Morissette claims she is the victim of a “calculated blackmail campaign” orchestrated by her former tour manager ... TMZ has learned.
According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Alanis is suing a woman named Keren Urinov for civil extortion, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation.
Alanis claims that while temporarily employed by her as a tour manager, Keren admitted to the British Border Force that a bag seized at an airport on July 12, 2025 -- which allegedly contained marijuana and a non-opioid animal tranquilizer called xylazine -- belonged to her.
The Bunny Ranch empire built by late brothel owner Dennis Hof is officially up for grabs ... with the Nevada business hitting the market for $33.9 million ... TMZ has learned.
According to an offering memorandum obtained by TMZ ... the Bunny Ranch portfolio is being sold as one package. It includes the Moonlite Bunny Ranch, Sagebrush Ranch and Love Ranch, plus 11 Nevada real estate parcels.
The sale also includes four licensed businesses, residential properties, support buildings, storage facilities, development land, highway frontage, vehicles, equipment, trade names, websites, and other digital assets.
