Angela Nicolaou and Ivan Kuznetsov were arrested after climbing the Empire State Building.
A marriage proposal on top of one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers may seem like a scene from a movie. But for Russian city climbers Angela Nikolaou and Ivan Kuznetsov, it ended in handcuffs rather than a happy ending.On July 1, the pair illegally climbed the antenna tower of the Empire State Building in New York City, reaching approximately 1,454 feet (443 metres) above street level. Dressed in black and without visible safety equipment, they made their way to the restricted section of the landmark before unfurling a large black banner that read: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world knows peace.” Shortly afterwards, Kuznetsov got down on one knee and proposed to Nikolaou.
She accepted, and they embraced as they hung high above Manhattan.The stunt attracted the attention of police and emergency services. New York Police Department officers, including members of the Emergency Service Unit, climbed to the top of the building and escorted the couple down. They were arrested without incident and later faced multiple charges, including burglary, criminal trespass and reckless endangerment.
Investigators are still examining how they were able to enter the restricted maintenance areas of the building despite extensive security measures.
Nikolao and Kuznetsov are no strangers to dangerous climbs. They are among the most popular figures in the urban climbing, or “rooftop” community, where participants climb skyscrapers and other tall buildings without ropes or harnesses. Their climb has taken them to some of the tallest buildings in the world, attracting millions of views on social media.Their story reached a wider audience in 2024 through the Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story. The film follows their relationship and documents their many high-risk adventures, including climbing in Asia and Europe. The documentary showed the extraordinary planning behind their travels and the risks involved in their hobby.Empire State Building management condemned the latest incident, noting that the building already offers formal screenings for visitors who want an unforgettable engagement without breaking the law.
Authorities also confirmed that access to parts of the observatory had been temporarily restricted while emergency responders dealt with the incident.The suggestion spread on social media, and officials stressed that the climb was illegal and potentially dangerous. The Empire State Building remains one of the safest landmarks in New York City, which makes the incident even more surprising.