Couple Arrested After Empire State Building Antenna Proposal
A daredevil couple was arrested Wednesday after scaling the Empire State Building’s antenna spire, 1,454 feet above midtown Manhattan, in what authorities described as an audacious marriage proposal. Bodycam footage released by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch captured the moment officers intercepted the climbers on the iconic skyscraper’s broadcast antenna.
According to USA Today, Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Beerkus, 32 — whose real name is Ivan Kuznetsov — were arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, possession of burglar’s tools, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct. The couple was later arraigned on additional felony charges including burglary and reckless endangerment.
The Stunt
The couple allegedly bought tickets to the Empire State Building at approximately 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, and hid overnight in the building. The Associated Press reported that they emerged from a hatch on the 102nd floor around 5 a.m. on July 1, used tools to loosen brackets on a stairwell, and broke a lock on a security door on the restricted-access 104th floor to reach the antenna.
Once atop the spire, the pair unfurled a black banner reading: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.” After descending to a platform, Beerkus knelt and proposed. Nikolau accepted, and photos posted to social media showed an engagement-style ring against a bird’s-eye view of Manhattan.
Arrest and Bodycam Footage
NYPD Emergency Services Unit officers climbed approximately 1,250 feet to intercept the couple after waiting about 30 minutes for the antenna to be powered down for safety. Bodycam footage released by Commissioner Tisch shows officers calmly approaching the couple.
“How you doing?” one officer asks before stating, “Well, you can’t be up here.” The couple complied without incident, and the officers guided them down.
Court Appearance and Charges
At their arraignment on July 2 in Manhattan Criminal Court, prosecutors alleged the couple caused approximately $2,000 in damage during the break-in. The Associated Press reported that Beerkus told police he wanted to “do something special” for their engagement. The couple faces a maximum of up to seven years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Under New York law, the charges are not eligible for monetary bail, and the couple was released on supervised release. Their next court date is scheduled for August 24, 2026.
Defense attorney Jason Krinsky argued that prosecutors overcharged the case. “What a way to propose — something you can only dream of,” Krinsky said outside court, as reported by the New York Post. “It was a message of love. She didn’t say ‘no.’ So you gotta give him that.”
The Couple: ‘Skywalkers’ Fame
Nikolau and Beerkus are prominent figures in the “rooftopping” community — an unregulated urban sport involving climbing tall structures, often without permission or safety equipment. They were featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which chronicled their unauthorized climb of Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, the world’s second-tallest building, and their budding romance.
“I thought Vanya was put in my life to teach me to skywalk, but now I see that skywalking was put into my life to teach me how to love,” Nikolau said in the documentary, as reported by USA Today.
The couple, Russian nationals originally from Moscow, now reside in East Orange, New Jersey.
Security Concerns and Reactions
The incident has raised questions about security at one of America’s most iconic landmarks. The couple allegedly evaded detection for hours, bypassed multiple security layers, and accessed the antenna without being stopped.
Empire State Building management described the climb as an “unauthorized incident” and suggested the couple should have instead purchased the building’s $1,000 “Happily Ever Empire Proposal Package,” according to Al Jazeera.
Angela’s father, Dmitriy Nikolau, a Russian circus artist, expressed support for the climb. “Why should I be worried? I climb up roofs myself,” he told Reuters. “I think it is normal to climb up a roof in any country, including the United States, according to any constitution.”
What’s Next
The couple faces a court date on August 24, and the case is likely to test the boundaries of New York’s bail reform laws. Meanwhile, questions remain about whether the Empire State Building will implement enhanced security measures and whether the couple could face additional federal charges for climbing a broadcast antenna. The Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story” is expected to see renewed interest following the high-profile stunt.