Some people book a fancy restaurant when they’re planning to propose. Others choose a beach at sunset. And then there’s this couple, who apparently looked at the top of New York City’s iconic Empire State Building and thought, “Yep, let’s climb that instead.”
In what has now become a huge buzz on the internet this week, two daredevils climbed illegally onto the Empire State Building’s antenna – 1,400 feet above Manhattan – and waved a peace sign, kissed each other, became engaged… and got arrested not long after they came back down. It is a tale that sounds like it could come out of a movie but in actuality did happen.
A Proposal Literally Above Everyone Else
Notably, the couple in question is Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus (or Ivan Kuznetsov), two Russian urban climbers who have developed massive popularity online through climbing buildings around the globe without any safety devices. This time, however, the pair may have really topped it all. After somehow accessing a restricted section above the Empire State Building’s 102nd floor, they climbed onto the antenna spire carrying a black banner that read: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” Soon after, while the helicopters circled above them, and curious spectators looked at them from below, Ivan got on one knee. Angela said yes. However, if the described scene seems to mark the end of the story, it isn’t.
They were featured as the main characters in a Netflix documentary released in 2024 named “Skywalkers: A Love Story” in which their high-risk lifestyle and relationship were depicted, along with how they risked everything in their search for adrenaline rushes through extreme climbing in different countries. Throughout the years, they managed to get millions of followers on social media where they consider their climbing to be an artistic expression and way of beating their fear. However, their recent dare has made them celebrities not only on social media but also in the legal world because people think that they are crossing the thin line between adventure and crime.
From “Yes!” to Handcuffs
Instead of celebrating with champagne, the newly engaged couple became the guests of the NYPD.
The officers of the Emergency Services Unit helped them to come down from the antenna and then placed them under arrest. Several charges have been filed against the two for crimes including burglary, criminal trespass, and reckless endangerment, while investigations are still ongoing on how they managed to access the restricted site.
Fortunately, no injuries were sustained in the whole ordeal.
Romance or Recklessness?
And that is the new hot topic on social media.
While some hailed it as the best proposal ever, due to their sheer guts and determination, others felt that it was crossing all limits by putting their lives as well as emergency crews in danger. The security threat on one of the most popular landmarks of New York City was also a point raised against this proposal.
Even the Empire State Building joined the conversation with a subtle dose of humour, reminding everyone that the observation deck already offers a perfectly legal -and much safer – place to propose. Message received.
How Did They Get to the Top? The Mystery Investigators Are Trying to Solve
In many ways, the most important question left unanswered is not necessarily why but how the couple made it up the Empire State Building. It has been verified that the pair was able to get up to the antenna on top of the observation deck located on the 102nd floor, an area restricted to the public with numerous levels of security precautions in place following the September 11 attacks.
Still, somehow the two got past the security measures to gain access to the 200-foot antenna spire before being spotted. The methods used by the two are unknown at this time; however, all aspects of their route throughout the building have been under investigation. As per reports, it took several ladders for the rescuers to climb through the antenna spire to get to the couple.
Not Their First Impossible Climb
The Empire State Building is just another one of the many record-smashing climbs carried out by Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus. The couple has previously climbed some of the tallest skyscrapers around the world, such as Merdeka 118 of Malaysia, which stands 678.9 metres tall and is the second tallest building in the world. They have hidden in the unfinished building for more than a day before scaling up.
Other buildings they have scaled include towers in China, Dubai and several other large cities. They have done so with well-planned pictures and videos capturing these daring climbs. This reputation for doing planned climbs is what makes officials sure that the Empire State Building climb was not impulsive at all.
This is a developing story.
