Craig Melvin to miss Today show after shocking NBC studio intruder confrontation; what happened

Craig Melvin will be absent from the Today show next week.

Published on: Jul 16, 2026, 23:06:24 IST

By Prakriti Deb

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Today show co-anchor Craig Melvin is set to be absent from the NBC morning program next week after a man allegedly entered the network’s New York studio and confronted him in a shocking incident on Thursday.

From left: Jenna Bush Hager, Carson Daly, Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin and Al Roker during the July 15, 2026 episode of NBC’s ‘Today’ (NBC)

However, Melvin’s upcoming absence was planned before the incident and is unrelated to the studio confrontation, according to reports.

Melvin, 47, announced his upcoming time off during the July 15 broadcast of the 3rd Hour of Today. During the segment, co-host Al Roker revealed that NBC’s lead MLS analyst and former US Men’s National Soccer Team player Taylor Twellman would fill in for Melvin during his break.

Melvin later told his co-hosts that he would be “off all next week” and part of the following week. He added that they were “excited to have” Twellman step in.

What happened at the Today show studio?

The announcement came a day before a man allegedly entered the NBC studio at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on Thursday, July 16.

According to People, the man made his way into the studio around 9 am and confronted Melvin while allegedly shouting racial slurs. The individual, whose identity has not been released, allegedly also asked for Al Roker, 71, according to the report.

A law enforcement source confirmed to People that the man was detained at the studio following the incident.

Savannah Guthrie also stepping away from Today

Melvin is not the only Today anchor temporarily stepping away from the program.

Savannah Guthrie, who co-anchors the first two hours of Today with Melvin, announced on Thursday that she would be taking time away from her regular duties to film the upcoming Wordle game show.

“We’re about to do it. Guys, I’m headed over to shoot Wordle over the next few weeks,” Guthrie said during the broadcast. “We’re going to shoot the whole season and we’re super excited.”

Guthrie returned to Today in April after taking an extended leave following the February 1 abduction of her mother, Nancy, from her home in Tucson, Arizona. The investigation into that case remains ongoing, and no suspects have been publicly identified.

The Today show has not announced any changes to Melvin’s scheduled break following the studio incident. The investigation into Thursday’s confrontation is ongoing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Prakriti Deb
Prakriti Deb is a journalist at Hindustan Times Digital, where she is part of the US Desk. She works on stories related to American politics, crime, sports, entertainment and weather. She particularly enjoys covering political developments that have global ripples. Through her work, she aims to break down complex events in a way that feels simple and understandable. Before joining the Hindustan Times, she worked with The Indian Express Digital, where she covered world affairs. She holds a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication with a specialisation in Journalism, along with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. Outside the newsroom, Prakriti enjoys travelling and stepping out of her comfort zone. She finds her sense of being through storytelling in all its forms, including conversations, painting, theatre, dance and photography. She appreciates discussions that challenge her perspective and help her see the world a little differently.Read More

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