Famous urban climbers face criminal charges after dramatic New York protest and surprise marriage proposal atop one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers
Two internationally known urban climbers have been arrested after scaling the iconic Empire State Building in New York and unfurling a giant banner proclaiming “The Power of Love” in a daring stunt that has sparked questions over security at one of America’s most recognisable landmarks.
The pair, Russian photographer Angela Nikolau, 33, and her partner Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, better known online as Ivan Beerkus, allegedly gained access to a restricted section of the skyscraper before climbing into the antenna structure, an area strictly closed to the public.
Tourists and office workers watched in amazement as the couple revealed a large banner carrying the message:
“When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
Many on the streets below initially believed the display had been authorised, but building security quickly realised the pair had breached restricted areas of the famous landmark.
Officers from the New York City Police Department responded swiftly, bringing the incident to a peaceful conclusion before arresting both climbers once they descended.
From internet stars to international headlines
Nikolau and Kuznetsov are far from ordinary thrill-seekers. The couple have built a worldwide following on social media through a practice known as “rooftopping”, scaling some of the world’s tallest buildings, bridges and cranes without safety ropes to capture breathtaking photographs and videos from dizzying heights.
Their extraordinary exploits were documented in the acclaimed 2024 film Skywalkers: A Love Story, which explored both their relationship and their passion for climbing some of the planet’s most challenging structures.
Their latest ascent, however, was unlike any before.A proposal hundreds of metres above Manhattan
After displaying their peace message, the couple climbed to a lower section of the antenna where, in an unexpected twist, Kuznetsov reportedly produced a ring and proposed to Nikolau.
She accepted, and the pair embraced high above the Manhattan skyline before continuing their descent, where police officers were waiting to arrest them.
The romantic gesture quickly spread across social media, although many viewers questioned the wisdom of combining a marriage proposal with an alleged criminal trespass.
Serious security questions
Authorities say the pair allegedly entered through a locked maintenance hatch near the building’s 102nd-floor observation deck before climbing into the antenna structure.
Investigators are now reviewing security procedures to determine exactly how they were able to bypass multiple layers of access control inside one of New York’s most heavily visited tourist attractions.
Although the couple’s message promoted peace rather than politics, officials stressed that unauthorised access to restricted areas presents significant safety and security concerns.
Both now face a number of criminal charges, including burglary, criminal trespass and reckless endangerment.
A growing trend
Security experts say “rooftopping” has become increasingly popular over the past decade, with participants seeking spectacular photographs and viral social media fame by climbing skyscrapers, cranes and bridges around the world.
Critics argue such exploits place unnecessary pressure on emergency services and encourage copycat behaviour, while supporters claim they represent artistic freedom and peaceful civil expression.
The quotation displayed on the banner, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace,” is widely attributed to rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix, although historians generally believe it originated in a similar form with 19th-century British statesman William Ewart Gladstone.
For many New Yorkers, the message itself was one of hope and unity. Yet officials insist that no matter how noble the sentiment, breaching the security of one of the world’s most famous buildings remains a serious offence, and one that is now likely to prompt a thorough review of safety measures at the Empire State Building.
