Craig Melvin steps away from 'Today' after studio intrusion
Anchor Craig Melvin will be absent from the 'Today' show for a week following an incident in which a man entered the studio and confronted him. He plans to return after a brief family leave.
NBC's "Today" anchor Craig Melvin will be off the program for the remainder of the week, with co-anchor Sheinelle Jones filling in. Co-host Savannah Guthrie explained at the start of Monday's broadcast that Melvin is taking a short family vacation.
The absence follows a security breach on Thursday morning when a man identified as Andrew Truelove entered the New York City studio, bypassed security, and approached Melvin, demanding the location of fellow anchor Al Roker. Video from the incident shows the intruder reaching a staircase inside the studio and using a racial slur toward Melvin before being detained by security staff.
Melvin posted a brief statement on Instagram confirming he was safe and indicating his intention to return the following morning. The intruder was arrested and charged with multiple hate-crime offenses, including menacing, burglary, trespass and harassment, with bail set at $10,000. Both Melvin and Roker obtained protective orders against him.
An internal review revealed that one of the two security guards on duty stepped away, allowing Truelove to slip into the building; the guard who remained on the floor missed the intruder. The guard who permitted the breach was subsequently terminated.
The incident has reportedly left "Today" staff unsettled, as they continue to process related personal matters, including the recent disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was last seen on Jan. 31.