Two Russian daredevils have been arrested after carrying out a risky marriage proposal atop New York City’s iconic Empire State Building, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The pair, identified as Vanya Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, climbed to the building’s main antenna, approximately 443 metres (1,454 feet) above ground level, where they were seen embracing before unfurling a banner bearing the message: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”
Footage captured by a U.S. news helicopter showed the couple, dressed in black, standing on the antenna high above the city. It remains unclear how they managed to gain access to the restricted area, which is located far above the sections open to the public.
Police later released body camera footage showing an officer climbing a ladder to reach the pair. Upon reaching them, the officer greeted the couple before informing them that they were not permitted to be on the structure. Both were subsequently taken into custody.
Beerkus and Nikolau are well known within the urban climbing community and were featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which chronicles their passion for “rooftopping”—an extreme activity involving climbing tall buildings without authorization or safety equipment.
Speaking to Reuters, Angela’s father, Dmitriy Nikolau, a Russian circus performer, said he was aware of his daughter’s plans and expressed little concern over the stunt. He described climbing rooftops as a normal activity and defended the couple’s actions.
The Empire State Building management described the incident as an unauthorized security breach. In a light-hearted response, a spokesperson noted that the couple could have celebrated their engagement through the building’s official “Happily Ever Empire Proposal Package,” which offers a legal and safer alternative for marriage proposals.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion on social media about the dangers of extreme urban climbing, as well as security measures at one of New York City’s most famous landmarks.
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