Craig Melvin to miss ‘Today’ show after shocking confrontation with intruder at NBC studios; what happened
“Today” co-anchor Craig Melvin will be absent from NBC’s morning show next week, following a shocking incident Thursday when a man allegedly entered the network’s New York studio and confronted him.
However, Melvin’s impending absence was reportedly planned before the incident and had nothing to do with the studio confrontation.
Melvin, 47, announced his upcoming sabbatical on the July 15 episode of Today’s 3rd Hour. During the show, co-host Al Roker revealed that NBC lead MLS analyst and former U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team player Tyler Twellman will take over Melvin’s job while he takes a break.
Melvin later told his co-hosts that he would take “all of next week off” and part of the following week. He added that they were “glad” Twellman stepped in.
What happened in the Today Show studio?
The news comes one day after a man allegedly entered the NBC studios at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on Thursday, July 16.
According to People magazine, the man entered the studio around 9 a.m. and confronted Melvin, allegedly shouting racial slurs. The man, whose identity has not been released, also reportedly asked for 71-year-old Al Roker.
A law enforcement source confirmed to PEOPLE that the man was detained at the studio following the incident.
Savannah Guthrie also quits Today
Melvin isn’t the only “Today” anchor to temporarily step away from the show.
Savannah Guthrie, who co-hosted the first two hours of “Today” with Melvin, announced Thursday that she will be taking time off from her day job to film the upcoming Wordle game show.
“We’re about to do that. Guys, I’m going to be filming ‘Wordle’ in the next few weeks,” Guthrie said on the broadcast. “We’ll be filming the entire season and we’re very excited.”
Guthrie returned to Today in April after an extended break after her mother, Nancy, was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1. The investigation into the case is ongoing and no suspects have been identified.
The Today Show has not announced any changes to Melvin’s scheduled break following the studio incident. The investigation into Thursday’s clash is ongoing.
