A pair of professional rooftoppers were arraigned Thursday on felony charges—including reckless endangerment and burglary—after scaling the Empire State Building's broadcast antenna and unfurling a peace banner as part of an elaborate marriage proposal, according to prosecutors.
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, subjects of the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, reached a height of 1,454 feet above midtown Manhattan on Wednesday before displaying a black banner reading: "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace," according to the court complaint.
Police waited roughly 30 minutes for the antenna to be powered down before Emergency Services Unit officers ascended approximately 1,250 feet to intercept the pair. A broken lock on a restricted-access security door on the 104th floor was found at the scene.
The couple was released without bail. Their attorney, Jason Krinsky, called the stunt extraordinary. "What a way to propose—something you can only dream of," Krinsky said outside court.
The two said little as they departed the courthouse, though Beerkus did briefly address a reporter's question about why they did it. "We believe in love," he said.
Court documents identified the couple by their legal names—Angelina Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32. The building's management labeled the climb "unauthorized" but declined to answer questions about whether the pair had any interactions with security personnel. Visitors to the skyscraper are screened upon entry and barred from bringing large packages, sports equipment, costumes, or masks, among other prohibited items.
Access to the antenna requires a key card, as the highest publicly accessible floor is the 102nd-floor observation deck. The 104th floor, where the broken security lock was discovered, is restricted.
Rooftop infiltration is practically a signature move for the couple. Skywalkers: A Love Story, their 2024 Netflix documentary, chronicles their often-unauthorized climbs of towering structures worldwide—with the pair at times posing as construction workers to gain access. They are not the first to breach the Empire State Building's upper reaches; other daredevils have made similar unsanctioned climbs over the years. Actor and musician Jared Leto was permitted to ascend to the base of the antenna from the 86th floor in 2023 as part of a concert tour promotion.
The couple's Instagram post—a collage of engagement photos captioned simply "Empire State Building, New York"—drew a flood of largely supportive comments. Fitness influencer Summit Wallace chimed in: "You just ruined proposals for the rest of us guys…"
Another person joked: “Good news: thats a beautiful ring, Bad news: y’all going to jail.”
The post has since received 2.2 million likes as of Thursday afternoon.
Krinsky said his team would review the evidence once prosecutors turn it over before deciding on next steps. "So you've got to give him some credit for that," he added, referring to Beerkus's unconventional proposal.