Proposal on Empire State Building spire lands Russian couple in handcuffs
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, known for their daring urban climbs, scaled the antenna of the Empire State Building on Wednesday, unfurling a peace banner and getting engaged before NYPD took them into custody. They face charges of burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal trespass.
The climb
The pair, wearing black outfits and masks, slipped into the Empire State Building on Tuesday, hid overnight, and emerged early Wednesday to force a security door at the 102nd floor. Around 5 a.m. they reached the antenna platform and then climbed to the very tip of the spire, 443 metres above the street. Television helicopters tracked their ascent live as pedestrians below looked up.
- Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov enter the Empire State Building with regular tickets and hide overnight.
- They leave their hiding spot, force a security door at the 102nd floor, and begin climbing the antenna.
- At the spire tip they unfurl a banner. Moments later Ivan proposes, and the couple embrace.
- NYPD arrests the pair after they descend; the antenna is temporarily shut off for safety.
- Court appearance in Manhattan. Both are released on low-level supervised release, with trial set for late August.
The proposal
At the top they unfurled a black banner reading: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” After descending to a lower ledge, Ivan knelt and presented a ring. The two embraced and kissed, capturing the moment for their Instagram accounts.
The higher I went, the easier it was to breathe.
The rooftoppers
Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32 (also known as Ivan Beerkus), are Moscow-born explorers now living in East Orange, New Jersey. Angela’s parents were circus artists; she grew up training in acrobatics. Ivan had been climbing structures alone since 2016, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Their high-altitude relationship became the subject of the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which followed their illegal ascent of the Merdeka 118 tower in Kuala Lumpur.
Legal response
After the couple descended, NYPD officers arrested them without incident. The antenna, which emits high-frequency signals, was powered down for roughly thirty minutes to allow the rescuers to approach safely. The next day a Manhattan criminal court released them on low-level supervised release. A prosecutor charged them with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal tampering, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct; the defence called the charges exaggerated.
This was just a message of love.
Court and reactions
A court date is set for late August. At a Thursday hearing, the couple smiled and kissed for photographers. Ivan told reporters, “We love New York.” The judge also ordered the confiscated engagement ring held. Meanwhile, their Instagram post accumulated nearly four million likes, with fans framing the risky proposal as a romantic ideal.
