The Today show’s latest security scare reportedly left staff members rattled after an intruder confronted Craig Melvin inside NBC’s headquarters. The unsettling incident unfolded just months after the team had already been shaken by the kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, raising fresh concerns about safety at 30 Rockefeller Center.
The suspect allegedly entered a restricted area while looking for Al Roker and came face-to-face with Melvin before security intervened. Although no one was injured, the encounter reportedly reignited fears among employees who had already endured a stressful year.
Why Today show staffers say the latest intruder incident has them fearing for their safety
Page Six reported that employees were still on edge following Nancy Guthrie’s February abduction from her Arizona home when another frightening incident unfolded inside NBC’s studios. A source told the outlet the latest scare was “chilling” and “f—king insane,” adding, “He could have stabbed Craig. He could have planted a bomb.”
The publication reported that the individual, who was carrying a backpack, allegedly entered the building seeking Al Roker but instead confronted Craig Melvin. During the brief encounter, the suspect reportedly lunged at the anchor and shouted a racial slur before being detained. Although the intruder never made it onto the actual Today set, he reportedly reached the interior staircase where the confrontation took place after passing through building security.
The outlet added that the encounter lasted between eight and 10 seconds. One insider explained that security at 30 Rockefeller Center was particularly challenging because the building remained open to the public. “There’s a coffee shop inside the area that staff use to get in and out. People come in with entourages — all the celebrities have like 12 people with them, so it’s not unusual for a whole group of people to be going through security at once,” the source said, later adding, “I don’t think it’s like they don’t care. It’s just a complicated place to do security.”
The New York Police Department confirmed an arrest, saying officers responded after being alerted to “a disorderly individual” inside the building. Police said the suspect was taken into custody “without incident,” that “there were no injuries reported,” and that the investigation remained active with charges pending.
NBC also addressed the incident in a statement. The network said, “An individual entered an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A. Subsequently, the person approached anchor Craig Melvin, who alerted security. The individual was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident. There was no altercation, and no one was injured.”
The statement added that Today was fully cooperating with law enforcement while reviewing its security protocols. The report also noted that Melvin and Roker returned to the air afterward and had not publicly commented. Earlier this year, Sheinelle Jones said the team had been left “shaken” after Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping, revealing staff members had experienced “trouble sleeping,” while The U.S. Sun previously reported NBC increased security for its on-air talent in coordination with the NYPD.
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