Craig Melvin and Al Roker get protection order after Today breach
A judge ordered Andrew Truelove to stay away from the NBC hosts after an alleged restricted-area confrontation at the Today studio, TMZ reports.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
Craig Melvin and Al Roker have received court-ordered protection after an alleged intruder reached a restricted part of the Today show studio, according to TMZ.
Andrew Truelove, the man accused in the incident, must stay away from both NBC hosts, his attorney Lawrence Gerzog told TMZ. Law enforcement sources also told the outlet the order bars Truelove from approaching Melvin and Roker at NBC or at their homes.
The restriction comes after what TMZ reported was a security breach at the Today studio on Thursday. According to the outlet, Truelove made it past security and was looking for Roker.
When Truelove could not find Roker, TMZ reported, he focused on Melvin. The outlet said Truelove confronted Melvin in a restricted area and allegedly lunged at him while shouting a racist slur.
Truelove remains in custody
TMZ reported that Truelove is being held at Rikers Island on $20,000 bail. He faces multiple hate crime charges, according to the outlet.
The stay-away order may not have an immediate practical effect while Truelove is in jail, law enforcement sources told TMZ, but it sets legal limits if he is released.
Gerzog, Truelove’s attorney, confirmed to TMZ that a judge issued the protective order. No further comment from Truelove was reported by the outlet.
Because the case involves criminal charges, the allegations against Truelove have not been proven in court. TMZ described him as the alleged intruder in the studio incident.
Melvin addressed viewers on air
Melvin spoke about the incident on Friday’s Today broadcast, according to TMZ. The host said he was grateful the man had been arrested and that no one was hurt.
NBC video cited by TMZ showed the Today team addressing the intrusion on air. The network has not been quoted in TMZ’s report giving a broader statement about the protective order.
The reported incident has raised fresh attention around security at the long-running morning show, where the anchors work inside NBC’s New York operation. TMZ also reported in a related story that NBC fired a security guard after the alleged intruder reached Melvin.
For now, the court order keeps the alleged intruder legally away from Melvin and Roker, while the criminal case moves ahead and Truelove remains behind bars.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.