Some New York City proposals involve skyline views. This involved police custody.
Two people were arrested on Wednesday, July 1, after climbing to the top of the Empire State Building 1,454 feet above midtown Manhattan to unfurl a banner and apparently turn the whole thing into a marriage proposal.
Around noon, two people wearing black clothing and face coverings were spotted at the building’s antenna. They carried a banner that read, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” These words are often attributed to guitarist Jimi Hendrix, but they were actually spoken by 19th century British politician William Gladstone.
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After spending about 30 minutes near the top of the tower, the two began to descend to a low platform, where one appeared to get down on one knee. Apparently the observation deck was too basic.
The climbers were identified as Angela Nikolaou and Ivan Bielkas. The Russian daredevil couple were the content creators featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary The Skywalkers: A Love Story.
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Nicolaou, the daughter of a former gymnast and circus performer, and Bielkas, who worked in a “rooftop” for many years, have built a public persona around illegally climbing skyscrapers and landmarks around the world. The documentary follows both their relationship and their most dangerous stunt yet: their attempt to scale Merdeka 118 in Malaysia, one of the tallest buildings on Earth.
Once they reached the top, the couple made sure to post on social media and the photos quickly went viral.
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Police took the two into custody after they descended the mountain, but an Empire State Building spokesperson called the incident “unauthorized.” Meanwhile, their social media team used the moment to tease another big event taking place in New York City this week (Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey).
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It’s still unclear how the climbers gained access to the antenna, which towers far above the building’s public areas. The Empire State Building reportedly remained open during at least part of the incident, but the observation deck was later removed as police responded.
This wasn’t the first time someone climbed the Empire State Building. Daredevil climbers like Alain Robert, who climbed the Empire State Building in 1994, have previously entered the building’s antennas and other restricted areas, and Jared Leto legally climbed parts of the landmark in 2023 to promote his “30 Seconds to Mars” tour.
As for the proposal, this was definitely the first time it took place outside of the observatory.
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