A daring couple, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, ascended the Empire State Building's antenna on Wednesday, June 1, 2026, to unveil a banner expressing their belief in “the power of love” and peace. This audacious act was reportedly part of a high-altitude marriage proposal, which ultimately led to their arrest shortly thereafter.
The couple, both Russian daredevils known for their “rooftopping” exploits, are the stars of the upcoming 2024 Netflix documentary titled “Skywalkers: A Love Story.” Dressed in black and wearing masks—without safety tethers—they managed to balance precariously on a narrow ledge, with video footage capturing them in a romantic moment, sharing a kiss atop the skyscraper's antenna. The banner they unfurled read, “when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace,” as it waved from the structure that stands 1,454 feet (443 meters) above midtown Manhattan.
After spending some time at the peak, the couple rolled up their banner and began descending. Footage showed them navigating the complex latticework of metal before reaching a wider ledge, where Beerkus set up photography equipment and got down on one knee, seemingly proposing. Following this intimate moment, the couple took selfies, with Nikolau displaying an engagement-style ring against a stunning bird’s-eye view of Manhattan.
However, their romantic escapade did not go unnoticed. Officers from the Police Emergency Services Unit began ascending the structure to intercept them. Body camera footage revealed an officer greeting the couple with, “Well, you can’t be up here,” to which Beerkus responded off-camera, “We are engaged.” The police eventually met the couple as they descended a ladder, and they calmly interacted with the officers. Following the incident, Nikolau took to her social media accounts to post images of their adventure, including a stunning photo featuring the engagement-style ring.
The authorities identified the couple by their formal names, Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, and they faced charges including burglary and reckless endangerment. As of that time, it remained unclear whether they had legal representation to comment on the charges against them. The documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story” chronicles their unauthorized climbs of tall structures, where they sometimes pose as construction workers to gain access.
It remains uncertain how the couple managed to gain access to the Empire State Building’s antenna, as it is located well above public areas within the 102-story structure. The building's management released a statement calling the climb “unauthorized” but noted that it did not endanger any individuals within the skyscraper. However, they did not clarify the couple's means of accessing the antenna or any interactions they may have had with security personnel.
Eyewitness accounts from visitors in the building, like tourist Julie Morris, indicated that she observed the couple passing through some mesh gates into an off-limits area, initially assuming they worked there because they were not masked. As the incident unfolded, onlookers on the sidewalks near the iconic Art Deco tower gazed in awe. Jonathan Roman, a tourist from Glasgow, mentioned that witnessing the stunt felt like being inside a movie and deemed it “probably more exciting” than a visit to the observation platform.
Historically, daredevils have scaled various parts of the Empire State Building, often without authorization. Notably, actor and musician Jared Leto was granted permission in 2023 to climb to the base of the antenna from the 86th floor to promote a forthcoming tour.
