Inside ‘Today’ show’s ‘stricter security protocols’ after Craig Melvin’s intruder scare
The “Today” show is “implementing stricter security protocols” following the terrifying security breach last week, in which an intruder looking for Al Roker broke into the studio and confronted Craig Melvin the morning of July 16.
The new protocols were all outlined in an email, which was sent out on Wednesday, per Variety.
“We wanted to reach out with an important update regarding studio access for ‘Today’ interviews,” the email read. “In light of the recent events last week, we are implementing stricter security protocols effective immediately.”
“Moving forward, there will be a maximum of two (2) people in the studio per guest,” the email continued. “This includes anyone accompanying the guest — PR representatives, hair/makeup, social media, photographers, stylists, studio representatives, or any other support personnel. We’ll defer to you on who those two individuals should be, but there will be no exceptions or additional personnel permitted in the studio during the interview.”
The intruder who entered on July 16, who has been identified as Andrew Truelove, slipped past security at the NBC show’s New York City headquarters and asked Melvin for Roker’s location.
We’re told that Truelove got to the staircase inside the studio when he approached Melvin and the two had an 8-10 second interaction — during which Truelove called the host the N-word.
Melvin quickly alerted security and Truelove was arrested.
Following the incident, Melvin took to Instagram to share a statement, assuring his fans he is “doing just fine.”
Page Six exclusively reported that staffers at the NBC show have been on edge since the intrusion.
One source called the incident “chilling” and “f–king insane,” pointing out, “He could have stabbed Craig. He could have planted a bomb.”
Upon investigation, we reported that the security guard who allowed the maniac to enter the building was fired from his job.
Sources told us that security video showed two guards on duty at the time of the breach. However, one guard stepped away, and the other guard missed Truelove as he slipped in.
Truelove was hit with a slew of hate crime charges for the intrusion — including hate crime menacing, hate crime burglary, hate crime criminal trespass and harassment charges. His bail was set at $10,000, The Post confirmed.
Additionally, both Roker and Melvin were granted protective orders against him.
