NBC\u2019s \u201cToday\u201d show cast and crew dealt with an unexpected and unwelcome guest off-screen Thursday who was ultimately arrested by New York police. <\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department confirmed in a statement to The Times that officers responded at approximately 9 a.m. to a report of a \u201cdisorderly person\u201d at 30 Rockefeller Center, home of the morning show\u2019s studio. Police took the unidentified individual into custody. <\/p>\n
A spokesperson for NBC confirmed the \u201csecurity incident\u201d in a statement shared with The Times, noting that an individual entered \u201can unauthorized area\u201d and \u201capproached\u201d co-anchor Craig Melvin, who notified security. According to TMZ,<\/a> the alleged intruder was searching for Al Roker but instead turned his focus to Melvin when he couldn\u2019t find the longtime weatherman. The man reportedly lunged and yelled the N-word at Melvin. TMZ on Thursday also published a photo of Melvin and Roker speaking to each other and co-anchor Dylan Dreyer while surrounded by numerous crew members.<\/p>\n Later Thursday afternoon, Melvin said in a statement shared to Instagram<\/a> he is \u201cdoing just fine\u201d and thanked social media followers for their support. He said he will be back on air Friday morning. <\/p>\n No injuries were reported and police will continue to investigate the incident, the statement added. The \u201cToday\u201d spokesperson said production is fully complying with law enforcement amid its investigation and is reviewing security measures.<\/p>\n \u201cNBC and \u2018Today\u2019 take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously,\u201d the statement said, adding that production remains \u201ccommitted to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios.\u201d<\/p>\n Thursday\u2019s occurrence marks the latest security concern for \u201cToday,\u201d which reportedly beefed up police and private security presence<\/a> in February in light of the kidnapping earlier this year of Nancy Guthrie, mother of \u201cToday\u201d show co-host Savannah Guthrie.<\/p>\n Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing from her home in Arizona on Feb. 1. Law enforcement officials believe Guthrie was taken against her will<\/a> from her Catalina Foothills home; her phone, wallet, car and medication were left behind. The investigation<\/a> into her abduction is ongoing.<\/p>\n Savannah Guthrie returned to her \u201cToday\u201d post<\/a> in April and announced during Thursday\u2019s broadcast that she will be absent \u201cthe next few weeks\u201d to film NBC\u2019s TV adaptation of the popular New York Times puzzle Wordle. She will host the game show,<\/a> which is set to debut next year.<\/p>\n Times staff writer Stephen Battaglio contributed to this report. <\/p>\n