Couple scales Empire State Building spire for peace banner and proposal, then arrested
A Russian couple scaled the Empire State Building's antenna on Wednesday, unfurled a peace banner and appeared to get engaged 443 meters above Midtown before police took them into custody.
The climb and the banner
Two people dressed in black, their faces covered by masks, climbed to the very top of the Empire State Building's spire on Wednesday afternoon. Standing on a narrow ledge, they unfurled a black banner that read "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace" – a phrase often attributed to Jimi Hendrix. The banner fluttered in the wind as news helicopters circled the 443-metre Art Deco tower. Passersby on the street below stopped to watch, and the building's observation deck was evacuated.
said Jonathan Roman, a tourist from Glasgow who had tickets to the deck. Roman added that the spectacle was "probably more exciting than going up to the observation deck for the second time."It's crazy – like a movie.
A sky-high proposal
Shortly after 12:30 p.m., the pair began their descent through a metal grid toward a wider platform. There, the man – later identified as Ivan "Vanya" Beerkus – knelt before his partner, Angela Nikolau, and appeared to ask her to marry him. They embraced, kissed, and took selfies, with Nikolau stretching out her left hand as if showing off a ring. The couple later posted the images on their Instagram accounts. One photo shows Beerkus on one knee with his hand over his heart; another captures Nikolau's newly ringed hand.
- Couple begins descent from spire after displaying peace banner.
- NYPD takes the couple into custody.
Who are Angela Nikolau and Vanya Beerkus?
Nikolau, 33, and Beerkus, 32, are a Russian couple known for scaling skyscrapers around the world without permission or safety harnesses. Nikolau describes herself online as a "neo-artist exploring identity, fear and freedom." Their previous climbs include the Bay Bridge in San Francisco and the Merdeka 118 tower in Kuala Lumpur. The two were the subjects of the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which chronicled their relationship and their high-altitude stunts.
Netflix declined to comment.the stunt had nothing to do with the documentary, and it was not being filmed for any official purpose related to the show.
Police response and open questions
An NYPD helicopter was dispatched to the scene and followed the climbers' descent. Officers took Beerkus and Nikolau into custody after 1 p.m. No one was injured. It remains unclear how the couple managed to reach the spire. Visitors to the Empire State Building are subject to strict security checks; large packages, sports equipment, costumes and masks are all prohibited. Witness Julie Morris told CBS she saw two people open mesh gates and climb to the top.
The New York Police Department is still determining what charges may be filed.I simply assumed they had permission to be there.
