India, July 16 -- 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.

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 a...