What To Know
- An intruder was reportedly arrested on the Today set after breaching security, confronting host Craig Melvin, and yelling a racial slur at him.
- The incident occurred shortly before the third hour of the show, causing Melvin to miss the beginning of the broadcast.
- This security breach follows earlier reports of increased security on the Today set after the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother earlier this year.
UPDATE (7/16/26 at 3:30 p.m. ET): Today has released an official statement about reports of an intruder bypassing security on the NBC morning show set, leading to a confrontation with Craig Melvin in which a racial slur was used against him.
In a statement to NBC News, the show confirmed that a “security incident” occurred after the intruder “entered an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A.” Melvin alerted security of the suspect, identified as Andrew Truelove, who has a criminal history and multiple pending cases in New York courts.
“The individual was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident. There was no altercation, and no one was injured. Today is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter,” the statement continues. “NBC and Today take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously. We are reviewing the incident and our security protocols and remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios.”
ORIGINAL STORY (7/16/26 at 12:09 p.m. ET)
A scary security incident reportedly occurred on the set of NBC’s Today.
On Thursday, July 16, TMZ reported that an intruder was arrested on the 30 Rockefeller Plaza set after allegedly breaching the show’s security and confronting host Craig Melvin. Law enforcement told the outlet that the incident occurred around 9 a.m. ET, shortly before the third hour of Today began. Melvin was noticeably absent at the start of the third hour on Thursday, with Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer handling the show’s opening news coverage.
Per the outlet, the intruder reportedly asked for Roker after getting past security. Unable to find the weatherman, the intruder sought out Melvin instead. He reportedly confronted Melvin in a restricted area on set, lunged at him, and yelled the N-word at the host.
The intruder, described as an unarmed white man, was detained and arrested after Today staff and security rushed in to assist Melvin. It is believed the intruder made his way backstage through a stairwell and reportedly was found near the host’s dressing rooms.
Neither NBC nor Today have publicly commented on the alleged incident. A behind-the-scenes photo shared by TMZ shows Roker and Dreyer looking shocked as they seemingly heard of the news from Melvin.
Melvin appeared in his usual role as Savannah Guthrie‘s co-anchor on the 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. ET hours of Today on Thursday. Though he missed the top of the third hour’s broadcast, he was back in the studio with Roker and Dreyer after the episode’s first commercial break for a health segment.
NBC
Earlier this year, multiple outlets reported that security on the set of the NBC morning show had been increased in the wake of Nancy Guthrie‘s disappearance. Savannah’s mother was abducted from her Arizona home in February, something she told Hoda Kotb in a March Today interview she believes was a targeted attack towards her.
“To think that I brought this to her bedside, that it’s because of me — and I just say, ‘I’m so sorry, Mommy,” she tearfully told Kotb. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry to my sister and my brother, and my kids and my nephew, and Tommy, my brother-in-law.’ I’m just, like, so sorry.” (Authorities have yet to name any suspects in the case.)
The alleged security incident occurred after a happy morning for Melvin on the show. During Today‘s 8 a.m. ET hour, he surprised Anne Hathaway with an Odyssey-themed present for her baby. The actress is currently expecting her third child with her husband, Adam Shulman.
“We wanted to celebrate you, and we wanted to celebrate your bun there in the oven. We got you a baby gift, and this is not something that you could find in stores,” Melvin said as a Today crew member handed Hathaway a basket containing a baby-sized, crocheted Trojan armor ensemble.
Sharing her appreciation, Hathaway said, “This is appropriately epic. Thank you so much. This is amazing.”
Today, Weekdays, 7 am/6c, NBC
Third hour of Today, Weekdays, 9 am/8c, NBC