Climber couple arrested after scaling Empire State Building antenna for
apparent marriage proposal
[July 02, 2026]
By JENNIFER PELTZ and ROBERT BUMSTED
NEW YORK (AP) — A daredevil couple scaled the Empire State Building's
antenna Wednesday and unfurled a banner about “the power of love” and
peace, apparently as part of an audacious, high-altitude marriage
proposal — soon followed by their arrest.
The Russian climbers, who go by Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, were
the subject of the 2024 Netflix documentary “ Skywalkers: A Love Story ”
about their “rooftopping” exploits and budding romance.
Dressed in black and wearing masks but not tethers, the two balanced on
a narrow ledge and appeared to kiss atop the New York skyscraper's
antenna, news helicopter video showed. The banner, reading “when the
power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace,” waved from
the structure, which rises 1,454 feet (443 meters) above midtown
Manhattan.
After lingering for a time, the two collected the banner and began to
climb down, picking their way along the latticework of metal to a wider
ledge, where one seemed to set up a piece of photography equipment and
got down on one knee. After the two kissed again and hugged, the other
person took selfies with an outstretched left hand, as if examining a
ring.
Police Emergency Services Unit officers started ascending a ladder in
the spindly structure to intercept them. Police body camera video showed
an officer calling out a greeting and explaining, “Well, you can't be up
here.”
An off-camera voice replied with what sounded like, “We are engaged.”
A few seconds later, officers reached a landing within the antenna and
met the couple, who were coming down a ladder and calmly spoke with
police, the video showed.
Nikolau posted images of the escapade on her social media accounts,
including a photo that modeled an engagement-style ring above a
bird’s-eye view of Manhattan.
The two climbers — whom police identified by their formal names,
Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov — were arrested on burglary,
reckless endangerment and other charges. It wasn't immediately clear
whether they had attorneys who could speak to the allegations. Messages
seeking comment were sent to the couple.
“Skywalkers: A Love Story” follows Beerkus and Nikolau as they make
often unauthorized ascents of tall structures, sometimes posing as
construction workers to sneak in.
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Two people stand on the tip of the antenna of the Empire State
Building in New York while holding a banner on Wednesday, July 1,
2026. (WABC-TV via AP)
It wasn’t clear how the pair gained access to the Empire State
Building's antenna, which rises well above public areas of the
102-story building. Building management said in a statement that the
episode was “unauthorized” and didn’t endanger anyone in the
skyscraper.
The management didn’t answer questions about how the two reached the
antenna and what interactions, if any, they had with security
workers. Empire State Building visitors are screened and told not to
bring large packages, sports equipment, costumes or masks, among
other items.
Tourist Julie Morris told local TV stations that she was on one of
the building's observation decks when she saw two people pass
through some mesh gates into an off-limits area. She said she
assumed the pair, who weren't masked, worked there.
As the stunt unfolded, onlookers gaped from the sidewalks near the
Art Deco office tower.
“It's crazy — it's like being in the movies,” said Jonathan Roman, a
tourist visiting from the Scottish city of Glasgow. He and his
15-year-old son had observation platform tickets but arrived to find
the building blocked off because of the antenna activity.
Still, the spectacle was “probably more exciting than going up to
the viewing platform for the second time,” Roman reasoned.
Daredevils have previously climbed the antenna and other parts of
the Empire State Building. Those ascents have largely been
unauthorized, but actor and musician Jared Leto was allowed to climb
up to the base of the antenna from the 86th floor in 2023 to promote
a tour.
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