Man breaches Today show security, approaches Craig Melvin
A man slipped past security at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Center on Thursday morning, approached Today co-host Craig Melvin in an unauthorized area near Studio 1A, and allegedly shouted a racial slur before police took him into custody. No injuries were reported, and NBC said there was no altercation.
Key Takeaways
- NYPD officers responded at about 9:19 a.m. Thursday to a “disorderly person” report inside 30 Rockefeller Center and took an unidentified individual into custody, with no injuries reported.
- NBC’s Today show said the person entered an unauthorized vestibule near Studio 1A, approached co-anchor Craig Melvin, and was detained after Melvin alerted security.
- Reports say the man asked for Al Roker, then turned toward Melvin and allegedly lunged while shouting a racial slur; NBC stated there was no altercation.
- Officials identified the suspect as Andrew Truelove; a preliminary search found no weapons, and NBC said it is reviewing security protocols.
What happened during the Today show security breach?
According to the NYPD, officers from Midtown North Precinct were called shortly after 9 a.m. after a disorderly person was reported inside 30 Rockefeller Center. The department said the person was placed into custody and that the investigation remains ongoing.
The Guardian reported that the man slipped past security and made his way onto the set area, where he reportedly lunged at Melvin and shouted a racial slur. A law enforcement account cited by the outlet said investigators believe he entered through a secured area and first asked staff for longtime weatherman Al Roker. When he could not find Roker, he turned his attention to Melvin.
NBC News reported that Melvin, 47, was approached in that unauthorized area and then alerted security. For more coverage across emerging security and media stories, see Future Tech & AI Wonders on BlasterPost.
Who was arrested after approaching Craig Melvin?
NBC News, citing three officials briefed on the matter, identified the man in custody as Andrew Truelove, born in 1985. Officials said he has a criminal history and several cases pending in New York courts. A separate official said a preliminary search did not turn up any weapons.
Both Melvin and Roker were back on air about 15 minutes after the man was removed, The Guardian reported, and neither mentioned the episode on the broadcast. Melvin has anchored Today since 2018 and became co-anchor alongside Savannah Guthrie in January 2025.
How did NBC and police respond to the Today incident?
In a statement reported by NBC News, the Today show confirmed a “security incident” after an individual entered an unauthorized vestibule near Studio 1A and approached Melvin.
“The individual was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident. There was no altercation, and no one was injured,” the statement said. It added that Today is cooperating with the investigation and that NBC is reviewing the incident and its security protocols.
The Guardian noted that NBC had already stepped up security earlier this year after co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother was abducted. Thursday’s breach renews scrutiny of how visitors move from Rockefeller Plaza into restricted studio spaces—and why rapid staff alerts still matter when a high-profile live show is under way.