A dramatic marriage proposal atop one of the world's most recognizable skyscrapers ended in arrest after two experienced urban climbers illegally scaled the Empire State Building's antenna and unfurled a banner carrying a message of peace.
The climbers, identified as Russian nationals Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, reached the building's restricted upper structure on July 1 before displaying a banner that read, "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace." Moments later, Kuznetsov appeared to propose to Nikolau, who accepted before the pair embraced and celebrated at the summit.
The incident prompted an immediate response from the New York Police Department, which deployed emergency personnel, including aviation support, while temporarily restricting access to parts of the building. After descending from the antenna, both climbers were taken into custody without injuries being reported.
Authorities later charged the pair with several offenses, including burglary, criminal trespass and reckless endangerment, as investigators examined how they managed to access maintenance-only areas above the public observation deck.
The Empire State Building's management condemned the unauthorized stunt, emphasizing that the landmark offers official proposal experiences through its observation decks and noting that the incident posed no danger to visitors.
Nikolau and Kuznetsov are internationally known for "rooftopping"—the practice of climbing skyscrapers and other tall structures without safety equipment. Their exploits were previously documented in the 2024 Netflix film Skywalkers: A Love Story, which chronicled their high-risk adventures around the world.
Videos and photographs from the climb quickly spread across social media, triggering mixed reactions. While some viewers praised the proposal's cinematic setting, others criticized the stunt as reckless and questioned how the pair bypassed security measures at one of New York City's most heavily monitored landmarks.
The incident has renewed debate over security at iconic tourist attractions, particularly following previous unauthorized climbs of prominent buildings. Officials have not disclosed the full details of the investigation into how the climbers gained access to the restricted sections of the skyscraper.
