Anyone with a fear of heights might want to avert their eyes, because one couple took on the Empire State Building in a way most people would never dream of.
A pair of daredevil climbers identified by ABC7 as Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Beerkus, 32, scaled the Empire State Building’s spire in New York City on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, before unfurling a banner high above Midtown Manhattan. Dressed in matching black outfits and masks, they turned the stunt into a dramatic spectacle that was captured from multiple angles by news helicopters and bystanders below.
The well-known rooftop climbers were also photographed displaying a message as they stood high above New York City.
“When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”
The line is often linked to Jimi Hendrix, though it is originally attributed to 19th-century British politician William Gladstone.
As if scaling one of the world’s most famous skyscrapers was not dramatic enough, Ivan then appeared to propose while the pair moved down onto a smaller platform. The couple embraced after the apparent proposal, according to reports, before police took them into custody later that day.
It was certainly an unconventional setting for a proposal.
Reports said the pair spent only a short time at the top before climbing back down. ABC7 and other outlets said officers met them after the descent and placed them into custody just before 1 p.m.
The Empire State Building said the unauthorized incident did not create any risk for tenants, visitors, or guests on the observation deck below the spire. The building also noted that it offers a much safer, legal setting for marriage proposals at its observatories.
“It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck, atop the World’s Most Famous Building in the center of New York City, does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals.”
The couple are no strangers to public attention. They appear in the 2024 documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which is available on Netflix and follows their high-risk relationship and rooftop climbing exploits.
When it opened on May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world, a title it held for nearly 40 years. The Art Deco landmark stands 1,250 feet (380 meters) to its roof and 1,454 feet (443 meters) to the tip of its spire and antenna.
Today, the building remains one of New York City’s most famous attractions, drawing millions of visitors each year, even as newer skyscrapers elsewhere have overtaken it in overall height. Dubai’s Burj Khalifa currently holds the top spot at 2,717 feet (828 meters).
Perhaps that will be the destination for their wedding day.