A 41-year-old man, Andrew Truelove, has been charged with hate crimes, criminal trespass, and harassment after allegedly storming NBC’s Rockefeller Plaza studios and confronting 'Today' co-host Craig Melvin with a racial slur. Police say Truelove initially asked to see longtime 'Today' host Al Roker before slipping past security and entering a restricted area, where he allegedly lunged at Melvin.
Truelove was arraigned on Friday, facing charges including burglary in the third degree as a hate crime and menacing in the third degree as a hate crime, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Bail was set at $10,000. NBC confirmed the incident, stating that Truelove entered an unauthorized area near Studio 1A, approached Melvin, and was quickly detained by security without further incident.
Security Guard Fired
Following the incident, a security guard was reportedly fired after surveillance footage showed Truelove slipping past two guards. One guard stepped away while the other allegedly missed the intruder. Melvin addressed the incident on Friday’s broadcast, stating that everyone was safe and that the network was cooperating with law enforcement.
Background on Truelove
Public records show Truelove has been involved in multiple criminal incidents over the past year, including charges unrelated to the 'Today' show incident, such as reckless endangerment.