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New York police took Russian nationals Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Beerkus, 32, into custody on July 1 after the pair scaled the antenna atop the Empire State Building, where they unfurled a banner reading “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace,” according to video reviewed by CBS News and CNN. Beerkus got down on one knee to propose with a ring as the couple embraced and kissed roughly 1,450 feet above Midtown Manhattan before beginning their descent, footage broadcast by ABC News showed. The NYPD said the climbers were apprehended without incident after reaching ground level, with streets near Fifth Avenue and 34th Street briefly closed during the operation. Charges remained pending Wednesday evening as the investigation continued, officials told multiple outlets.
The East Orange, New Jersey, residents have built reputations as extreme “rooftoppers” who scale tall structures without ropes or safety equipment, a practice documented in the 2024 Netflix film “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” USA Today reported. Nikolau maintains an Instagram account where she posted images from the spire, including one displaying the engagement ring against the New York skyline, according to CNN. Beerkus has used the surname Kuznetsov in some official contexts, CBS News noted, while both have conducted similar high-risk climbs in the past. Their latest feat drew crowds and widespread social media attention as helicopters captured the scene.
The couple somehow reached the 105th-floor spire before climbing the final 200-foot needle, evading security measures at the landmark, The New York Times reported. Once at the summit they deployed the large banner promoting peace, after which the proposal took place, video posted to Instagram by Nikolau confirmed. They then climbed down under police observation and were met by officers at street level, according to law enforcement statements carried by Complex magazine. No injuries were reported during the multi-hour episode.
Footage under the title “Watch: Couple scale Empire State Building, get engaged and are arrested” circulated rapidly across BBC, ABC and other platforms, showing the masked climbers maneuvering along the exterior. Nikolau later shared additional posts from the stunt, including video of the banner and the couple’s kiss, as referenced by CNN and Instagram records. Authorities recovered the banner as evidence while processing the pair at police headquarters. Public reaction mixed awe at the feat with criticism of the security breach.
New York City law classifies unauthorized climbing of any structure over 50 feet as a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine or both, according to legal references cited by amNewYork and Complex. The NYPD has not yet detailed specific charges against Nikolau and Beerkus but confirmed the investigation remains active. Similar past incidents at the Empire State Building have led to arrests and heightened security reviews, data from prior local news coverage indicate. The landmark’s operators have long warned against such trespasses.
The climbers’ history includes other notable urban ascents that drew international coverage before their documentary elevated their profile, according to Netflix and USA Today summaries. Beerkus and Nikolau live together in New Jersey and frequently document their exploits on social media, where the latest posts quickly amassed thousands of views and comments. Police emphasized that the stunt disrupted normal operations at one of the city’s busiest tourist sites during peak afternoon hours.
