Couple who climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and expressed love arrested

On July 1, 2026, a Russian couple of daring performance artists, after violating the security boundaries of New York City's famous Empire State Building and climbing its highest antenna, displayed a banner for world peace and made a marriage proposal, subsequently being arrested by the New York Police. The arrested couple are 33-year-old Angela Nikolau and 32-year-old Ivan "Vanya" Beerkus, who are widely known for climbing tall buildings around the world without safety equipment.

Their extremely risky act of reaching the very top of this 1,454-foot (approximately 443-meter) tall antenna drew significant attention from the public in New York City, as well as from helicopters and drones.

Dressed in black attire and face masks, the duo entered this restricted antenna zone without any safety equipment and remained there for nearly an hour, displaying a large black banner. The banner reportedly bore the inscription: "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, peace will dawn upon the world."

Upon descending to a platform slightly below the antenna, Ivan knelt and proposed marriage to Angela, who gladly accepted. Following this, the two kissed and did not forget to take photos and selfies with the New York skyline and the engagement ring as a backdrop.

When they returned to the ground, officers from the New York Police Department (NYPD) peacefully arrested them. They face multiple charges including reckless endangerment, trespassing, criminal mischief, and possession of criminal tools. After being presented in court on July 2, they were released under supervisory conditions. As a precautionary measure during the operation, investigators had to disconnect the power to the antenna, and fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

This couple gained widespread fame through the popular 2024 Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story," and they have previously created similar risky scenes by climbing towering skyscrapers in cities like Los Angeles and Tianjin, China.

Authorities at the Empire State Building stated that no harm came to its customers or visitors as a result of this incident. The event quickly gained popularity on social media, with some calling it the world's most romantic marriage proposal, while others severely criticized the couple for endangering the lives of emergency rescue services and encouraging unauthorized acts. While similar incidents in the past have typically resulted in lenient penalties such as fines or community service, critics believe their international fame may influence future legal proceedings and media dealings.