A man was arrested Thursday morning, July 16, after he slipped past security at NBC’s “Today” show and confronted co-anchor Craig Melvin while using a racial epithet. The incident took place around 9 a.m. ET inside 30 Rockefeller Center and concluded without injury before cameras went live.
The suspect had been looking for veteran weatherman Al Roker, 71. Unable to find him, he confronted Melvin, 47, and directed the N-word at him. Security staff restrained the intruder, and police arrested him. Melvin and Roker appeared on air 15 minutes later, with no indication to viewers of what had transpired.
How the Breach Unfolded
The suspect entered the lobby of Studio 1A and pushed through the first-floor gold doors. He then had a brief verbal exchange in a staircase with Melvin, who followed the man back into the lobby, where building security temporarily detained him. A New York Police Department officer subsequently entered the lobby and placed the individual in handcuffs.
In a statement, NBC News confirmed the security breach, saying an individual “entered an unauthorized area” near the studio and encountered Melvin, who notified security. The network said the suspect was apprehended without further incident, no one was injured, and NBC is cooperating fully with law enforcement as the investigation continues.
Police said that around 8:57 a.m. Thursday, July 16, an officer stationed at the building was alerted to a disorderly individual and arrested him. A separate statement indicated officers responded at approximately 9:19 a.m. to a disorderly person report and made an arrest. No injuries were reported, the investigation remains active, and charges are pending. The suspect has not been publicly named.
The episode has raised questions about security at the morning program, which broadcasts from one of the most heavily trafficked buildings in New York. NBC said it is reviewing both the incident and its security protocols, describing its commitment to a safe environment for employees, talent and visitors as a top priority.
A Rare Incident on Live TV
Unauthorized entry into live television studios is uncommon. NBC erected a temporary barrier around the studio in June 2020 during nationwide protests, though no breach occurred then. Thursday’s incident is unusual because the intruder reached an on-air host directly.
Melvin has been an anchor on “Today” since 2018 and was promoted in January 2025 to join Savannah Guthrie as co-anchor of the program’s first two hours, taking over after Hoda Kotb’s exit. He also co-hosts the third hour and anchors “Dateline NBC” broadcasts. Melvin joined WRC, NBC’s Washington, D.C., station, in 2008, where he began anchoring weekend newscasts, and moved to MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) in 2011. He met his wife, former sports reporter Lindsay Czarniak, at WRC, and the couple has two children.
Roker, the man the intruder had reportedly been trying to find, has worked as a television weatherman for more than 50 years. He has been divorced twice and has a daughter, Courtney, with his second wife, Alice Bell, born in 1987. He shares daughter Leila and son Nick with his current wife, ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts.
Guthrie Announces Extended Absence
The security scare coincided with an announcement on the same broadcast. Guthrie told viewers she will step away from “Today” for the next several weeks to film episodes of a new “Wordle” game show she is set to host.
“I’m headed over to shoot ‘Wordle’ over the next few weeks,” Guthrie said, adding that the team would shoot the entire season. NBC greenlit the project, which is being produced by “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon and the New York Times — the company that owns and operates the popular word game after acquiring it in 2022. The show is set to premiere in 2027.
Guthrie’s temporary departure follows a difficult period. Her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1. The anchor took roughly two months away from the desk during the search for her mother before returning in April. Recently, “Today” anchor Laura Jarrett and “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle” co-host Sheinelle Jones have substituted for Guthrie alongside Melvin.
Throughout Thursday’s telecast, the hosts did not mention the confrontation on the air, and the broadcast appeared entirely routine to viewers. The investigation into the intrusion remains ongoing.