NBC fired a security guard at its New York headquarters after a man sneaked backstage before lunging and yelling the N-word at “Today” anchor Craig Melvin.
Sources with direct knowledge of the matter told TMZ that the security guard, who has not been publicly named, was axed due to the lapse in security that let the unarmed man gain access to the restricted area Thursday.
Sources told the New York Post’s Page Six that security video showed two guards at the scene. One stepped away, and the other guard didn’t see the unarmed intruder, identified as Andrew Truelove, 41.
The unnamed sources did not specify which of the two security guards seen on security footage was canned.
The New York City Police Department arrested Mr. Truelove after he was detained by security. He is charged with burglary, criminal trespass and menacing as hate crimes, along with harassment, the police told Entertainment Weekly.
Mr. Melvin posted Thursday on X that “I’ve heard from so many of you over the last few hours. I’m doing just fine. Thanks for reaching out.”
In a statement also included in Mr. Melvin’s post, the network show’s staff said that “NBC and TODAY take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously. 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.”
Mr. Truelove was initially seeking another Black “Today” anchor, Al Roker, during the incident, but was unable to find him.
Mr. Roker said Friday on Instagram, “A really heartfelt thank you to all who reached out over the last 24 hours to check in on my brother, @craigmelvinnbc We are both okay. It’s moments like these that serve to pull us together. You all, like Craig, said ’You come after one of us, you come after all of us.’”
Police sources told the Post that Mr. Truelove was arrested multiple times in New York City this year prior to Thursday’s incident.
Mr. Truelove also has a history of homelessness, having ended up on the streets in California after a string of prior felony convictions. The Los Angeles Times profiled the Virginia native in 2023.
“Any shelter I go to, I have to warn every member of the staff and plenty of people who stay there that every day I’m going to have several episodes where I bite my fist and sound irritated to myself. But they don’t need to approach me during these episodes, and I’m not schizophrenic or delusional; this is post-traumatic stress disorder from lots of people who have hurt me in my life,” Mr. Truelove told the Los Angeles Times at the time.
