Why Craig Melvin is absent from ‘Today’ show after intruder debacle

Why Craig Melvin is absent from ‘Today’ show after intruder debacle

Craig Melvin is off “Today” all week for “a little family vacation” following Thursday’s terrifying security breach.

Savannah Guthrie explained the reason for Melvin’s absence at the start of Monday’s broadcast while sitting beside Sheinelle Jones, who filled in for Melvin.

“We’ve got Sheinelle in for Craig, who’s getting a little family vacation,” Guthrie, 54, told viewers.

The women then spoke about the FIFA World Cup Final 2026 match between Spain and Argentina, as well as other news topics of the day.

Savannah Guthrie (seen above with Sheinelle Jones) revealed why Craig Melvin was absent from “Today” on Monday morning. NBC
“We’ve got Sheinelle in for Craig, who’s getting a little family vacation,” she told viewers. (Pictured: Guthrie and Jones on “Today” Monday.) NBC

Melvin’s family trip comes days after a crazed man broke into the “Today” show studio and confronted the anchor last Thursday morning.

The man, who has been identified as Andrew Truelove, slipped past security at the NBC show’s New York City headquarters and asked Melvin, 47, for Al Roker’s location.

We’re told that Truelove got to the staircase inside the studio when he approached Melvin and called him the N-word.

The man, who was wearing a backpack, was detained and arrested after Melvin alerted security.

Maniac Andrew Truelove (seen above) broke into the “Today” show studio last Thursday morning. Santi Ramales / BACKGRID
The intruder confronted Melvin (seen above) and called him a racial slur. Robert Miller for NY Post

Following the incident, Melvin took to Instagram to share a statement.

“Hey everyone. I’ve heard from so many of you over the last few hours. I’m doing just fine,” he wrote.

“Thanks for reaching out. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning on @todayshow.”

Truelove was demanding to know Al Roker’s whereabouts. (Pictured: Al Roker and Melvin in 2025.) Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
The man (seen above) was arrested and hit with hate crime charges. Santi Ramales / BACKGRID

Upon investigation, Page Six 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.

Melvin and Roker (both seen above with other anchors on “Today”) were granted protective orders against Truelove. TODAY/NBC
The incident has “Today” show staffers “on edge” as they are still processing the abduction of Guthrie’s mom. (Pictured: Maren Morris. Melvin and Guthrie on “Today.”) Roger Wong/INSTARimages

Both Roker and Melvin were granted protective orders against the intruder.

Page Six exclusively reported that the incident has “Today” show staffers “on edge” as they are still processing the abduction of Savannah’s mom, Nancy Guthrie.

Nancy, 84, was last seen on the evening of Jan. 31.

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