Empire State Building Climbers Say Daring Proposal Was Meant to Be 'Special'
The Russian pair allegedly broke through a restricted security door and climbed 1,454 feet above Manhattan before staging the proposal, prosecutors said.
- On Tuesday, Ivan Beerkus, 32, and Angela Nikolau, 33, appeared in Manhattan criminal court charged with felony reckless endangerment and burglary following their Monday climb of the Empire State Building antenna.
- Beerkus told officers he initiated the 1,454-foot climb to "do something special" for their engagement, unfurling a banner reading "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace" before proposing on a ledge.
- Police found a broken lock on the restricted 104th floor, and the New York Police Department Emergency Services Unit waited around 30 minutes for the antenna to be powered down before intercepting the couple as they descended.
- Released without bail under New York law, their attorney Jason Krinsky said he would assess evidence, while Empire State Building management termed the incident "unauthorized" and insisted there was "no danger" to the public.
- Known for unauthorized ascents documented in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, Beerkus and Nikolau now face determination by the Manhattan District Attorney's office, which will weigh charges against the fact that no one was injured.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Empire Spire Chaos—Felony Fallout
High above Manhattan, a “peace” proposal on the Empire State Building spire turned into a textbook case of how romance and viral fame can collide with hard law and national security. Story Snapshot Two famous urban climbers scaled the Empire State Building’s spire without permission and without visible safety gear. They hung a pro-peace banner...
Empire State Building climbers say daring proposal was meant to be 'special'
The stunt-loving couple arrested after climbing atop the Empire State Building on Wednesday said they were simply trying to make their engagement special, one of the daredevils reportedly said.
Attorney of Empire Building Daredevil Couple Speaks Out, Accuses DA's Office of Overcharging
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA The lawyer representing the daredevil couple who climbed the Empire State Building has some words for the DA’s office as he outlines his defense strategy. The world was stunned on Wednesday when Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau took their love to unbelievable heights by scaling the Empire State Building’s 1,454-foot antenna to get engaged. Unfortunately, the risky act has landed the couple in legal hot water with a felony cha…
10 Videos of Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau: Daredevil Duo Break Silence After Felony Arraignment
Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, the Russian daredevil duo made famous by Netflix's Skywalkers: A Love Story, appeared in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday 2 July after prosecutors charged them with felony reckless endangerment and burglary over their dramatic proposal atop the Empire State Building's antenna in New York City a day earlier. For context, the pair are part of a tight, controversial world of so‑called 'roof toppers,' known for scali…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources lean Left, 37% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
