Wheel of Fortune bosses are reportedly scrambling to keep Ryan Seacrest from getting dragged into a growing scandal surrounding longtime announcer Jim Thornton.

Thornton was suspended from the iconic game show after he was allegedly spotted viewing an online chatroom used by adults who say they are attracted to minors while aboard a flight.

Now, insiders claim producers fear the controversy could become a major headache for Seacrest, who has carefully built a career largely free of scandal.

According to Closer Weekly, the situation has gone from an internal personnel problem to what one source described as a “volcano of bad press” for Wheel of Fortune.

The source said Sony Pictures Television is now focused on protecting Seacrest and longtime co-host Vanna White from any fallout.

Seacrest, 51, is reportedly particularly sensitive to controversies that could damage his squeaky-clean public image.

“Ryan doesn’t need these kinds of bad vibes when he’s still deciding how much more time he wants to devote to this job,” an insider told the outlet.

The source claimed Sony may now have to give Seacrest extra incentive to remain with the show and ride out the controversy.

Seacrest officially took over for legendary host Pat Sajak on September 9, 2024. Sajak had hosted Wheel of Fortune since 1981.

Thornton, meanwhile, has been part of the program for more than 15 years.

He began appearing as a rotating guest announcer in late 2010 before becoming the permanent announcer in September 2011 following the death of longtime announcer Charlie O’Donnell.

The controversy erupted after TMZ published photos that allegedly showed Thornton scrolling through an online chatroom while traveling on a commercial flight.

The website describes itself as a support community for people who experience attraction to children or adolescents while discouraging illegal behavior.

A fellow passenger reportedly alerted authorities. Airport police later spoke with Thornton, but he was not charged with a crime and authorities did not accuse him of criminal conduct.

Wheel of Fortune producers later conducted their own investigation and suspended Thornton.

His attorney, Allison Hart, has strongly defended him.

Hart said Thornton became involved in suicide-prevention advocacy after losing a close family member to suicide two years ago and had visited online communities where people experiencing suicidal thoughts could seek support.

According to Hart, Thornton believed the chatroom he was viewing was connected to suicide prevention.

She also stressed that the site itself is not illegal and said Thornton has never viewed, downloaded or consumed illegal child sexual-abuse material.

The chatroom at the center of the controversy has also defended its existence.

In a statement, representatives said the site is designed as a support forum for people struggling with unwanted attractions and does not encourage sexual abuse, illegal images or other criminal behavior.

The group argued that giving people a place to anonymously discuss those feelings could improve mental health and potentially prevent harmful behavior.

Despite those explanations, the scandal has created an uncomfortable new problem for one of television’s most recognizable game shows.

And according to insiders, Sony’s biggest concern may now be keeping the controversy from driving away the man who only recently took over its most important job.

With Seacrest still relatively new behind the famous Wheel of Fortune podium, producers reportedly don’t want a scandal involving another member of the show’s team jeopardizing the franchise’s carefully managed new era.