Craig Melvin Reflects on Final Outing with Uche Ojeh
Oh, fantastic—Craig Melvin just can’t help but dissect every moment from Uche Ojeh’s last night on Earth. Believe it or not, the Today show anchor sat down with People Magazine (June 2024) to unpack his friendship with the late Uche Ojeh, Sheinelle Jones’ husband, and personally recall their “final outing together.” I don’t want to sound cynical, but yes, here we are again, pondering a celebrity’s heartfelt memories.
Melvin bluntly admits he and Ojeh first clicked over a shared love of candid behind-the-scenes TV banter. According to Melvin’s recollection (People.com; Today Show interview), they wrapped a morning segment on June 5, then slipped out to grab pizza at Joe’s Pub near Rockefeller Center. “We were just two guys talking shop and swapping silly stories,” Melvin told People. He even saved the text thread; because obviously, if you’re famous, every group chat is a priceless artifact.
Then came the charity gala kick-off for a children’s literacy program. Melvin says he watched Ojeh engage the crowd with genuine warmth—no green room posturing, just the guy we all heard so much about. They shared a tense blink-and-you’ll-miss-it hug before parting ways. Two days later, Ojeh suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. His death at 45 blindsided colleagues and friends alike.
Melvin’s grief is raw—but let’s not pretend this is groundbreaking news. He described the moment he learned of Ojeh’s passing as “surreal,” quoting a text from Sheinelle Jones: “He was the best kind of friend.” As today’s anchors poured out condolences (NBC Today Show; People.com), Melvin reminded viewers that Ojeh’s legacy isn’t just about mornings on TV. It’s about the guy who insisted on picking up the dinner tab, no matter how many times you tip-toed around his generosity.
I’m rolling my eyes, but fine: the takeaway is that Uche Ojeh made an impact off-camera, too. Melvin urged fans to donate to cardiac research in Ojeh’s name—hard evidence that grief sometimes sparks good deeds. According to public records and People’s reporting, Ojeh mentored dozens of young journalists behind the scenes, proving he was more than an anchor’s spouse.
I told you so: celebrities do have feelings, and yes, it hurts when they lose a friend. But hey, that’s life. What to watch next? Stay tuned for the inevitable series of morning show tributes—complete with flower arrangements and voice-over montages. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, NBC Today Show
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
