‘Today’ Show Security Guard Fired After Intruder Crashed Set, Confronted Craig Melvin: Report

NBC reportedly fired a security guard after an intruder breached the Today show set and confronted cohost Craig Melvin on Thursday, July 16.

Page Six and TMZ reported that the employee was terminated on Thursday after a man was able to slip past security at the show’s New York City headquarters. The man was allegedly looking for meteorologist Al Roker. He instead found and confronted Melvin, 47. TMZ reported that the man allegedly lunged at Melvin and yelled a racial slur at the broadcaster.

Us Weekly has reached out to NBC for comment.

“There was a security incident this morning at the TODAY show studio. An individual entered an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A,” a spokesperson for the Today show shared in a statement with Us on Thursday. “The person approached anchor Craig Melvin, who alerted security. 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 continued, “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.”

Melvin addressed the incident via Instagram later on Thursday, writing, “Hey everyone. I’ve heard from so many of you over the last few hours. I’m doing just fine. Thanks for reaching out. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning on @todayshow.”

TMZ and Page Six reported that a man identified as Andrew Truelove, 41, was arrested on charges including hate crime criminal trespass, citing the New York Police Department. Truelove was also charged with hate crime menacing, hate crime burglary and harassment following the incident.

Melvin has been part of the Today show since 2018 and was promoted to main coanchor in 2025 alongside Savannah Guthrie following Hoda Kotb’s departure from the show. The news was announced in November 2024 ahead of Kotb’s January 2025 exit.

“I am beyond excited and grateful. I’ve had a lot of conversations yesterday with a lot of people who mean a lot to me, and I just wanted, obviously, to thank NBC and the folks here who have deemed me worthy,” Melvin said at the time. “I’ve enjoyed just a lifetime of blessings and this is the latest in a long line of blessings.”

“Let me just say that the staff found out this morning, and people broke into applause. This is one of the most popular decisions NBC News has ever made,” Guthrie said on the Today show in November 2024.