What began as a breathtaking marriage proposal more than 1,400 feet above New York City quickly became a criminal investigation after a couple illegally climbed the antenna of the Empire State Building and staged a dramatic engagement.
The incident unfolded on July 1, when two masked climbers reached the top of the iconic skyscraper's spire, unfurled a large banner promoting peace, embraced, and appeared to get engaged before police took them into custody. The unauthorized stunt temporarily disrupted operations at one of New York City's most visited landmarks and sparked widespread debate over the risks of social media-driven extreme climbing, as informed by ABC News.
© AFP via Getty ImagesWho Are the Empire State Building Couple?
Authorities identified the pair as Russian urban climbers Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, who is also widely known online as Ivan "Vanya" Beerkus. The couple has built a global following by scaling some of the world's tallest skyscrapers without safety equipment.
Many viewers may recognize them from the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which follows their relationship and their dangerous rooftop adventures across multiple countries. According to EW, the documentary highlighted both the physical risks and emotional toll of their unusual lifestyle.
© TNSWhat Happened on Top of the Empire State Building?
According to investigators, the couple purchased tickets to the Empire State Building the night before and allegedly remained inside overnight before accessing restricted areas leading to the antenna.
Early the next day, they climbed to the top of the 1,454-foot structure without authorization. Once at the summit, they displayed a black banner reading, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace."
© TNSMoments later, Kuznetsov got down on one knee and proposed to Nikolau while standing atop the antenna. She accepted before the pair kissed high above Manhattan. Images and videos from the stunt quickly spread across social media.
Police Response and Criminal Charges
The climb triggered a major emergency response involving the NYPD, including helicopters, drones, and specialized emergency personnel. Visitors were temporarily cleared from observation areas while officers secured the scene.
© AFP via Getty ImagesAfter coming down from the antenna, the couple was arrested and later charged with multiple offenses, including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, trespassing, criminal tampering, and possession of burglary tools. Prosecutors allege the pair bypassed safety barriers to reach restricted sections of the building.
Attorney Defends the Stunt
During their court appearance, the couple's attorney argued that the climb was intended as a symbolic expression of love and peace rather than an attempt to endanger anyone.
The defense also challenged several of the criminal allegations, maintaining there was no evidence that the public faced immediate danger and questioning whether prosecutors had overcharged the case.
The New York Post informed that authorities, however, continue to investigate how the pair accessed one of the building's most restricted areas.
Empire State Building Responds
Representatives for the Empire State Building emphasized that the climb was completely unauthorized and pointed out that the landmark already offers official proposal packages for couples looking to celebrate safely on its observation decks.
© AFP via Getty ImagesBuilding officials also stressed that safety remains the top priority for visitors and staff and condemned any attempts to bypass security or enter restricted sections of the property.
For supporters, the climb represented an extraordinary declaration of love. For critics, it highlighted the growing trend of dangerous social media stunts that can put both participants and emergency responders at risk.
