Man Arrested After Breaking Into "Today" Show Studios, Confronting Host
A man was arrested Thursday morning after breaching security at NBC's Rockefeller Center studios and confronting "Today" show co-host Craig Melvin, allegedly lunging at him and shouting a racial slur before being detained.
According to law enforcement sources who spoke to TMZ, the man, described as white and unarmed, first entered through the plaza before making his way into a restricted backstage area near the dressing rooms. Sources said he had been searching for longtime "Today" personality Al Roker, and when he couldn't locate him, turned his attention to Melvin instead, lunging at him while yelling the N-word. The incident took place around 9 a.m. ET and was not captured during the live broadcast.
What Happened Next
Staff and security personnel rushed to the scene and the man was quickly detained and later arrested. No one was physically injured in the encounter.
A photo taken inside the studio afterward showed Melvin surrounded by several people in the aftermath. Roughly 15 minutes after the incident, both Melvin and Roker returned to air as scheduled, with neither addressing what had just happened during the broadcast. NBC News did not immediately provide comment on the incident.
Craig Melvin's Role at "Today"
Melvin, 47, was named a co-anchor of "Today" in 2018 and took over as Savannah Guthrie's co-anchor for the show's first two hours in January 2025, following Hoda Kotb's departure from that role. He also co-hosts the show's third hour and serves as a host of "Dateline NBC." Melvin's career at NBC dates back to 2008, when he joined the network's Washington, D.C., affiliate, WRC, before joining MSNBC in 2011.
A Difficult Stretch for "Today"
Thursday's incident comes during an already challenging period behind the scenes at "Today." Guthrie announced on the same day's broadcast that she would be stepping away from the show for several weeks to film a new Wordle-based game show she is set to host.
The security breach has also raised fresh questions about protocols at the show's Rockefeller Center studios, a topic that drew scrutiny earlier this year following an unrelated investigation into the disappearance of Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, in Arizona.
The identity of the man arrested Thursday has not been publicly released, and further details about potential charges have not yet been disclosed.
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