An unhinged heckler slipped past security at NBC’s “Today” show early Thursday, lunging at host Craig Melvin and hurling a racial slur as he stormed the set, according to cops and sources. 

The scary scene played out around 9 a.m. when Andrew Truelove, 41, allegedly barged into an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A at the Rockefeller Plaza studio and demanded face time with Al Roker.

A man allegedly tried to lunge at “Today” show star Craig Melvin. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images Craig Melvin is an anchor on the “Today” show. Roger Wong/INSTARimages

But the intruder instead came face-to-face with Melvin and disturbingly called him the N-word, according to law enforcement sources.

Melvin alerted security before the wacko was detained by a member of the NYPD working a paid detail at the building, according to NBC and the sources.

He went without a fight, and no one was hurt, according to NBC.

Truelove was charged with burglary, menacing and criminal trespass as hate crimes — as well as harassment, police said.

The maniac allegedly asked for Al Roker. Roger Wong/INSTARimages Craig Melvin with Dylan Dreyer, Jack Antonoff and Laura Jarrett on May 22, 2026. Getty Images

The shocking episode wasn’t captured on air, but a photo taken inside the studio shows Melvin surrounded by several people in the aftermath.

“TODAY is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter,” the NBC show said in a statement.

“NBC and TODAY take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously. We are reviewing the incident and our security protocols and remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios,” the statement continued.

Truelove has 8 unsealed previous arrests in the city, mostly for criminal mischief, the sources said.
He has been on probation since June 18 for that offense, according to the sources.

In a more violent act, he allegedly attacked a staffer at his Bowery residence back in January — allegedly grabbing the worker’s arm and slamming a door into it, the sources said.

He was charged with second-degree assault in connection to that incident, according to the sources.

Thursday’s security breach left “Today” show staffers uneasy, especially after seeing host Savannah Guthrie live through the nightmare of her mom Nancy’s abduction.

“They were already on edge because of Savannah [Guthrie],” a source told Page Six.

The source called Thursday morning’s scare “chilling” and “f–king insane,” pointing out, “He could have stabbed Craig. He could have planted a bomb.”

While the intruder — who lunged and hurled a racial slur at Melvin — did not enter the actual filming studio, the man did reach the staircase inside the studio, where the confrontation occurred.