“Today” hosts Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Al Roker and Hoda Kotb were too busy caroling and having a jolly good time to even notice any alleged behind-the-scenes drama at NBC’s annual Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting in NYC on Wednesday.
“No one had more fun than Savannah, Hoda, Craig and Al,” an insider told Page Six.
The same can’t be said for rapper Flavor Flav.
The Public Enemy legend says security kicked him out of the Backstreet Boys’ dressing room.
The rapper, 65, wrote on X in a since deleted post: “I feel weird… I was invited to the Rockefeller Tree Lighting tonite and I was escorted to see my boys… THE BACKSTREET BOYS… and we were backstage in their dressing room… security came up to me and said: @nbc Does not want me in this area and I need to leave… What did I ever do to NBC or anyone… all I ever do is try to spread joy and love… and I think I did that for NBC at the Olympics.”
A network insider claims Flav showed up unexpectedly, and security was simply doing their job.
The already beefed up security was heightened even further after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down just a few blocks from the lighting ceremony yesterday morning.
Security asked the Public Enemy star to leave once they realized he wasn’t supposed to be there, according to TMZ.
Meanwhile, the “Today” hosts probably would’ve scooped him up and had him join their caroling fest had they known!
We hear the anchors had the time of their lives — and had no idea there was any drama.
In fact, “they never saw him,” a source told Page Six.
Guthrie, Kotb and Roker were too busy singing along to Thalia’s performance of “I Wanna Wish You a Merry Christmas,” we hear.
Newly announced “Today” anchor, Melvin, “started belting it out in a deep baritone that no one knew he had!” a source said.
When the chipper morning TV journos weren’t singing, they were chowing down.
We hear they kicked off their evening with a champagne toast, with their assistants and glam squads.
In between their live hits for the TV special, “they hung out together at 5 Acres restaurant, and noshed on French fries, cokes and a little wine and spirits,” the source said.
Little Big Town even joined between their performances. “Everyone was surprised and started cheering,” our insider shared.
For what it’s worth, the buzz around 30 Rock is they hope Flav will come back next year and join in on the holiday fun.
A spokesperson for NBC, and for Flav, didn’t comment.
