An intruder was reportedly arrested after storming the Today show set on Thursday, July 16.
According to TMZ, an unidentified stranger breached the set in New York City, asking for meteorologist Al Roker. The individual allegedly wasn’t able to find Roker, 71, and appeared to confront Craig Melvin instead. The suspect reportedly lunged at Melvin, 47, and yelled a racial slur.
The incident apparently took place around 9 a.m. on Thursday after Melvin cohosted the first and third hours of the show with Savannah Guthrie, Dylan Dreyer and Roker. As for the suspect, the individual was subsequently detained backstage.
Melvin has not publicly addressed the incident, nor has NBC. Us Weekly has reached out to the Today show for comment.
Following his time as a 3rd Hour Today personality, Melvin was announced as Hoda Kotb’s replacement for the main broadcast in November 2024 in the wake of her departure.
“I want to, obviously, thank NBC and the folks here who deemed me worthy,” he said of the gig at the time, gushing that he was “beyond excited and grateful” to follow in Kotb’s footsteps. “I’ve enjoyed just a lifetime of blessings, and this is the latest in a long line of blessings.”
The Today crew immediately rallied around Melvin following the announcement.
“Craig is so awesome, people were cheering when they got the staff email,” a source exclusively told Us at the time. “He’s the best — everybody is so excited for him.”
A second insider added, “He is truly one of the nicest, most humble, generous people. People are overwhelmingly happy for him. The good guy won.”
Ahead of the alleged incident on Thursday, Melvin reported news stories about air quality warnings and the 2026 World Cup, as well as completed an interview with The Odyssey costars Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland. Melvin ended the segment by gifting Hathaway, 43, a basket of goodies for her newborn on the way. (The Oscar winner and her husband, Adam Shulman, are expecting their third baby.)
“This is not something you can find in stores. When the child comes out, we wanted the child ready for battle,” he gushed, holding up a knit infant costume. “It is a Trojan outfit, custom designed for the baby.”
Melvin revealed that “Alex and Lyle from wardrobe” crafted the one-of-a-kind onesie for Hathaway’s little one.
“So, Tom, when you have your child,” Melvin later quipped after Holland, 30, called the present “cute.”
Holland, who is married to The Odyssey costar Zendaya, added, “I’ll know where to come.”
