The "Today" show is enhancing its on-set security measures following an incident where an intruder entered an unauthorized area of Studio 1A and accosted co-host Craig Melvin. The individual, identified as Andrew Truelove, allegedly hurled a racial slur at Melvin before being arrested and now faces hate crime charges.
In response, the show has informed Hollywood PR firms about new, stricter security protocols that are effective immediately. Guests are now permitted to be accompanied by only two support personnel, such as stylists or spokespersons. Any additional staff will be required to wait in the green room outside the studio. "We are implementing stricter security protocols effective immediately," an email to PR firms stated. "We’ll defer to you on who those two individuals should be, but there will be no exceptions or additional personnel permitted in the studio during the interview."
According to reports, Truelove, 41, allegedly entered a restricted area of the NBC studio at Rockefeller Center by following someone through a security gate. He was reportedly searching for Al Roker but encountered Melvin shortly before 9 a.m. City police reported that no one was physically harmed during the incident. The security lapse reportedly led to one guard's termination.
NBC and "Today" issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to safety. "NBC and 'Today' take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously," the statement read. "We are 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."
Video clips from the morning of the incident show Truelove loitering outside the ground-floor studio's window for at least half an hour, appearing in multiple shots between 8:03 a.m. and 8:34 a.m. during an interview with actress Anne Hathaway.
Truelove has a history of legal issues. Before the "Today" show incident, he had felony convictions and over a dozen pending charges in New York. In 2007, he was convicted of attempted abduction of an 8-year-old in Virginia and sentenced to 10 years in prison, with six suspended, followed by 10 years of probation. Court records indicate a psychiatrist testified he had symptoms of bipolar disorder and had stopped taking medication. Other past charges include trespassing, making bomb threats, destruction of property, and probation violations. In 2014, he was arrested for stealing signs from memorials for Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. After his probation ended in 2023, he moved to Southern California and was reportedly homeless.
Truelove pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and is currently being held on $10,000 bail. He is due back in court on Aug. 5. The incident also occurred about six months after Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, was the victim of a home invasion abduction in Tucson. Her whereabouts remain unknown, and no suspects have been publicly identified in that case.