Daredevil Couple Climbs Empire State Building, Gets Engaged
They broke into a restricted maintenance hatch, free-climbed 1,454 feet of exposed metal spire, and got engaged at the top — all in view of a stunned observation deck crowd.
Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32 — who goes by Ivan Beerkus online — were taken into custody Wednesday after scaling the antenna atop the Empire State Building and unfurling a banner reading "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."
How They Got to the Top
The pair appeared to access the spire through a maintenance hatch on the 102nd floor, possibly by breaking a lock, according to law enforcement sources. It remains unclear exactly how they evaded staff to reach the restricted area, which sits well above the public observation deck.
At least two members of the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit harnessed up and climbed to meet the pair partway up the spire, taking them into custody just before 1pm. Roughly 40 officers responded to the scene, and the building's Fifth Avenue entrance was temporarily blocked off.
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The Proposal at the Top
After holding the banner for several minutes, the couple began climbing down toward a lower platform. Kuznetsov then pulled a ring from his backpack, got down on one knee, and proposed. Nikolau said yes, and the pair posed for photos with the ring before continuing down.
The banner's message is frequently attributed to musician Jimi Hendrix, though it was actually spoken by 19th-century British politician William Gladstone.
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Known "Rooftoppers" With a Netflix Following
Nikolau and Beerkus are Russian nationals known for climbing skyscrapers around the world with little to no safety equipment, documented in the 2024 Netflix film "Skywalkers: A Love Story." The film followed their climb of Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, currently the world's second-tallest building.
Neither has a known criminal history in New York City. Sources say the pair could face charges including reckless endangerment, burglary, and criminal trespass, though formal charges had not been announced as of Wednesday afternoon.
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The Building's Response
An Empire State Building spokesperson called the incident "unauthorized" but emphasized there was no danger to tenants, visitors, or observation deck guests at any point. The spokesperson also noted, with apparent good humor, that the observation deck "does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals."
The observation deck reopened to visitors later Wednesday afternoon. The building's rules explicitly prohibit masks and costumes, both of which the climbers wore during the stunt.
Not the Building's First Unauthorized Climb
Daredevils have previously attempted unauthorized climbs of the Empire State Building's upper structure. In 2023, actor and musician Jared Leto was granted official permission to climb to the base of the antenna from the 86th floor to promote a concert tour — a rare sanctioned exception to the building's strict access rules.
TL;DR
- Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus climbed to the top of the Empire State Building's spire and were arrested
- The pair unfurled a peace-themed banner before Beerkus proposed to Nikolau at the top
- Roughly 40 NYPD officers responded; two Emergency Service Unit members climbed up to detain them
- The couple is known for documented rooftop climbs featured in a 2024 Netflix film
- Formal charges had not been announced as of Wednesday afternoon
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Culture & Entertainment Reporter
Marcus Webb writes about music, film, TV, and digital culture. He tracks the trends shaping entertainment and the creators driving them.
