Stunned tourists, office workers, and pedestrians in Midtown Manhattan watched in disbelief as two black-clad daredevils scaled the very peak of the Empire State Building’s transmission tower, unfurled a pro-peace banner, and capped off the heart-stopping stunt with a marriage proposal before being taken into police custody.
The climbers have been identified as Ivan “Vanya” Beerkus, 32, and Angela Nikolau, 33, a famous Russian “rooftopping” couple who previously starred in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.
Operating without any safety ropes or harnesses hundreds of feet above the building’s 102nd-floor observation deck, the pair reached the pinnacle of the 1,454-foot antenna spire. Once at the absolute summit, they displayed a large black banner reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace”—a famous line often attributed to Jimi Hendrix but originally spoken by 19th-century British Prime Minister William Gladstone.
Witnesses on the observation deck reported seeing the couple bypass security gates around noon. While visitors initially assumed the climbers were authorized maintenance workers, the extreme nature of the stunt quickly became apparent.
Read more: Trump sends message to U.S. ambassador in Lisbon: “We love Portugal” (with video)
The NYPD deployed drones and an elite Emergency Services Unit helicopter to monitor the situation, while traffic on the streets below was shut down around Fifth Avenue and 34th Street.
After displaying the banner, the couple began their descent toward a slightly wider metal ledge on the transmission structure. It was there that Beerkus dropped to one knee and pulled out an engagement ring. Nikolau accepted, and the newly engaged couple embraced and shared a kiss as onlookers watched from the streets and city webcams.
Nikolau even documented the dizzying aftermath on her Instagram Story, showing off her new ring against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline far below.
The romantic celebration was short-lived. Upon descending further down the spire, the couple was met by waiting NYPD officers and placed under arrest. Both were taken into custody with no injuries reported. Police sources indicate they face potential charges of criminal trespass and reckless endangerment.
Following the unauthorized security breach, a spokesperson for the Empire State Building assured the public that tenants and visitors were never in any danger, adding with a touch of irony that while the landmark is famous for memorable marriage proposals, guests are heavily encouraged to utilize the standard observation deck rather than the broadcast antenna.
