A man accused of entering an unauthorized area of the "Today" show set at 30 Rockefeller Center and yelling a racial slur at host Craig Melvin has been charged with hate crimes, according to law enforcement officials. Andrew Truelove, 41, was arrested Thursday morning after allegedly barging into a vestibule near Studio 1A around 9 a.m.
Sources familiar with the incident stated that Truelove initially said he wanted to see host Al Roker, but instead encountered Melvin and directed a racial epithet at him. Melvin alerted security, and Truelove was detained by an NYPD officer providing paid security at the building. He was subsequently taken to the Midtown North Precinct.
Truelove faces charges including burglary, menacing, and criminal trespass, all classified as hate crimes, along with a harassment charge, police said. He has multiple prior arrests in New York City within the past year, primarily for criminal mischief. According to sources, he has been on probation since June 18 for a previous offense.
In a separate incident in January, Truelove was accused of attacking a staffer at his residential building. He allegedly grabbed the worker's arm and slammed a door into it, leading to a charge of second-degree assault.
The intrusion onto the "Today" set was not broadcast live. NBC confirmed its cooperation with law enforcement and stated that the network takes the safety and security of its employees, talent, staff, and guests very seriously. NBC added that it is reviewing the incident and its security protocols to ensure a safe environment.