Man accused in Today show intrusion led from precinct in cuffs
TMZ reported Andrew Truelove was arrested after allegedly reaching a restricted area at 30 Rock and confronting Craig Melvin.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
A man accused of getting into a restricted area at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza during the “Today” show was led out of an NYPD precinct in handcuffs Thursday afternoon, according to video published by Backgrid and reporting by TMZ.
Police identified the man as Andrew Truelove, TMZ reported. In the video, photographers can be heard asking him questions as officers escort him away. Truelove responds by asking whether they had heard about what he did, then repeats the question and says he had cooperated.
The brief exchange came hours after a tense incident inside 30 Rock, where TMZ, citing law enforcement sources, reported that Truelove allegedly entered from the “Today” plaza Thursday morning and reached a restricted part of the building.
What police say happened
According to TMZ’s law enforcement sources, Truelove first asked staff members for “Today” weather anchor Al Roker. After he allegedly could not find Roker, he turned toward co-host Craig Melvin.
Those sources told TMZ that Truelove allegedly lunged at Melvin while yelling the N-word at him. The allegation led to hate crime charges, according to TMZ.
TMZ reported that Truelove entered a stairwell and moved backstage, near the dressing room area. The outlet said it was not clear exactly how far into the building he got before he was stopped.
The incident unfolded at around 9 a.m. ET, according to TMZ. Staff and security responded, detained the man, and police later arrested him, the outlet reported.
A photo from inside the studio showed Melvin surrounded by several people shortly after the confrontation, TMZ reported.
Charges and aftermath
Truelove was booked on hate crime burglary, hate crime menacing, hate crime criminal trespass, and harassment charges, according to TMZ. The charges are allegations, and no conviction has been reported.
No injuries were reported, according to TMZ. Melvin and Roker returned to the air roughly 15 minutes after the incident, and the broadcast did not discuss what had happened behind the scenes, the outlet reported, citing NBC video.
TMZ also published video showing a heavy police presence outside 30 Rock later Thursday. The outlet reported that investigators were looking into how Truelove allegedly made it so far into the NBC building without being detected.
The reported breach happened at one of morning television’s most visible locations, with the “Today” plaza regularly drawing crowds outside the studio. TMZ’s account places the alleged intrusion inside the building, beyond the public-facing area and close to backstage space used by the show.
Beyond his comments while being escorted from the precinct, Truelove’s response to the allegations was not reported by TMZ. NBC, Melvin and Roker were shown back on camera after the incident, but TMZ reported they did not address it during the broadcast.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.