A daring couple climbed the antenna of the Empire State Building on Wednesday and displayed a banner promoting love and peace. The stunt appeared to be connected to a dramatic marriage proposal high above New York City and ended with both climbers being arrested by police.
The pair are Russian climbers known publicly as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, who were featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story.” The film followed their dangerous rooftopping adventures and their developing relationship.
Couple Scales Empire State Building Antenna
The climbers reached the antenna of the Empire State Building, one of New York City’s most famous landmarks. The structure rises 1,454 feet, or 443 meters, above Midtown Manhattan.
News helicopter footage showed the two dressed in black and wearing masks. They appeared to be standing without safety tethers while balancing on a narrow ledge near the top of the skyscraper’s antenna.
At one point, they appeared to kiss while standing high above the city.
Banner Promotes Love and Peace
During the stunt, the couple unfurled a banner with a message about love, power and peace.
The banner read: “when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”
The message waved from the antenna as people below watched the scene unfold from nearby sidewalks.
Stunt Appears to Include Marriage Proposal
After staying on the antenna for some time, the pair gathered the banner and began climbing down along the metal framework.
They later reached a wider ledge, where one of them appeared to set up photography equipment and get down on one knee. The two then kissed and hugged again.
Video also showed the other person taking selfies while holding out their left hand, as if showing or looking at an engagement ring.
Nikolau later shared photos of the stunt on social media, including an image showing an engagement-style ring above an aerial view of Manhattan.
Police Intercept the Climbers
Officers from the Police Emergency Services Unit began climbing a ladder inside the antenna structure to reach the pair.
Police body camera footage showed an officer greeting them and telling them they were not allowed to be there. A voice off camera responded with what sounded like, “We are engaged.”
A few moments later, officers reached a landing inside the antenna and met the couple as they were climbing down a ladder. The footage showed the pair speaking calmly with police.
Climbers Arrested on Multiple Charges
Police identified the climbers by their formal names as Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov.
They were arrested on charges including burglary, reckless endangerment and other alleged offenses.
It was not immediately clear whether they had attorneys who could comment on the charges. Messages seeking comment were sent to the couple.
Connection to Netflix Documentary
The couple became widely known through the Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story.”
The film follows Beerkus and Nikolau as they climb tall buildings and other high structures, often without authorization. In some cases, they reportedly disguised themselves as construction workers to gain access.
Their Empire State Building stunt appears to follow the same pattern of extreme rooftopping, risk-taking and dramatic visuals.
Empire State Building Says Stunt Was Unauthorized
It remains unclear how the pair managed to reach the antenna, which is far above the public areas of the 102-story building.
Empire State Building management said the incident was unauthorized but added that it did not endanger anyone inside the skyscraper.
Management did not answer questions about how the climbers accessed the antenna or whether they had any contact with security staff before the stunt.
Visitors to the building are screened and are told not to bring certain items, including large packages, sports equipment, costumes or masks.
Tourist Says Pair Entered Off-Limits Area
Tourist Julie Morris told local television stations that she was on one of the observation decks when she saw two people pass through mesh gates into a restricted area.
She said the pair were not wearing masks at that time, and she assumed they were building employees.
Onlookers React From the Street
As the stunt continued, crowds gathered near the Art Deco skyscraper and watched from the sidewalks.
Tourist Jonathan Roman, visiting from Glasgow, Scotland, said the scene felt like something from a movie. He and his 15-year-old son had tickets for the observation platform but arrived to find the building blocked off because of the antenna incident.
Roman said the unexpected spectacle may have been more exciting than visiting the viewing platform for a second time.
Previous Empire State Building Climbs
This is not the first time daredevils have climbed the Empire State Building’s antenna or other parts of the structure.
Most previous climbs have been unauthorized. However, in 2023, actor and musician Jared Leto was allowed to climb from the 86th floor to the base of the antenna to promote a tour.
Correction Noted in Original Report
The original report was corrected to clarify that the incident happened on Wednesday, not Tuesday.
Russian climbers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, formally identified by police as Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, staged a dramatic stunt on the Empire State Building’s antenna on Wednesday. The couple unfurled a love-and-peace banner, appeared to kiss, and seemed to carry out a high-altitude engagement proposal before police intercepted them.
The climb was unauthorized, and both were arrested on charges including burglary and reckless endangerment. While the building’s management said no one inside was endangered, the incident drew major attention from tourists, onlookers and social media users.