A security guard at NBC’s Today Show has reportedly been dismissed only hours after a man managed to breach the Studio 1A set and move toward anchor Craig Melvin while yelling the N-word.
The guard, whose name has not been made public, was fired Thursday following allegations that he allowed an emotionally disturbed intruder to slip into Studio 1A at Rockefeller Center in New York City around 9am, while the show’s hosts were off the air, according to TMZ.
Andrew Truelove, 41, has since been identified as the suspect, with the NYPD confirming his arrest on charges including hate crime menacing, hate crime burglary, hate crime criminal trespass and harassment, according to Page Six.
Police said additional remarks allegedly made by Truelove suggested he may have been emotionally disturbed, ABC 6 News reported.
Surveillance footage obtained by Page Six reportedly showed two guards posted at the entrance as the security lapse occurred. In the video, one guard appears to step away briefly, while the other allegedly did not notice the suspect making his way into the restricted area.
Authorities and NBC have not publicly identified which of the two guards was terminated after the Today Show security breach.
According to Page Six, the firing upset some staff members, with insiders describing the guard as a familiar and well-liked presence inside the building.
The reported dismissal came just hours after Truelove entered the NBC News and Today Show plaza and asked employees where he could find longtime weather anchor Al Roker, TMZ reported.
TMZ reported that an unidentified Today Show security guard was fired Thursday, hours after an intruder breached the set and lunged toward anchor Craig Melvin.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed that the suspect, identified as Andrew Truelove, was arrested and booked on several charges following the breach
Once in the restricted area, he allegedly slipped past the two guards undetected, breached security at the headquarters and asked Melvin where he could find the network’s weatherman.
He reportedly moved toward Melvin when it became clear Roker was not reachable. As he did, he allegedly screamed the N-word, TMZ reported.
Truelove made it as far as the staircase inside the studio while approaching the host and the backstage area near the dressing rooms, though the exact location remains unclear.
According to sources who spoke with Page Six, he didn’t reach the actual studio set before security and staff rushed in shortly after Melvin alerted them to the incident.
A photo obtained by TMZ from inside the studio appears to show Melvin surrounded by staff members moments after the incident unfolded.
He later returned to the air with his fellow hosts without acknowledging the incident. Police said they responded to a report of ‘a disorderly person inside 30 Rockefeller Center.’
Although the incident was not captured during the broadcast, Melvin and Roker returned to air about 15 minutes later, with neither hinting at the drama that had just unfolded behind the scenes.
TMZ cameras captured a heavy police presence outside 30 Rock, with patrol cars lining the street, barricades in place and an officer with a K-9 as investigators worked to determine how Truelove managed to get so far inside the building.
When the suspect couldn’t find host Al Roker, he allegedly approached Melvin while shouting the N-word. Security and staff rushed in shortly after
Melvin later returned to the air with his fellow hosts without acknowledging the incident
The suspect has a recent criminal history, with two arrests in May for charges including trespassing and reckless endangerment, followed by an earlier arrest for assault in January, ABC 6 reported.
He was also charged with criminal mischief on five separate occasions over a several-month span between July and September 2025.
A statement from Today said it was ‘cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter.’
‘NBC and TODAY take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously,’ the program added.
The show also confirmed it is ‘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.’
In an earlier statement, Today confirmed that an ‘individual entered an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A’ before approaching Melvin. ‘There was no altercation, and no one was injured,’ it added.
A spokesman also confirmed to The Daily Mail earlier that the intruder in question was detained and arrested.
Melvin took to Instagram after the incident to update fans and confirm that he would not be taking any time off following the unexpected confrontation.
His caption read: ‘Hey everyone. I’ve heard from so many of you over the last few hours. I’m going just fine. Thanks for reaching out. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning on the Today Show.’
Melvin, 47, replaced Hoda Kotb as one of the show’s permanent anchors early last year, with his profile growing significantly since taking on the role.
Meanwhile, Roker, 71, remains one of the program’s most recognizable faces, having been a regular presence since 1996.
