Russian rooftoppers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus climbed to the top of one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers, the Empire State Building in New York. At a height of 443 meters, the couple unfurled a banner bearing a quote about love and peace and then got engaged.
Atop the building’s antenna, Beerkus got down on one knee and proposed to Nikolau. She accepted and later shared a photo of her engagement ring on social media.
Before the proposal, the rooftoppers hung a black banner from the building’s antenna bearing the quote: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” The words are frequently attributed to legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix.
After the couple descended, they were detained by New York police. According to U.S. media reports, they could face multiple charges, including trespassing, endangering public safety, criminal mischief (property damage), disorderly conduct and other offenses.
According to preliminary information, the rooftoppers gained access to the skyscraper’s closed 103rd floor through the observation deck on the floor below, which was open to visitors, before climbing the spire. Police are now investigating how they managed to bypass the building’s security system.
Representatives of the Empire State Building said the couple’s actions posed no threat to visitors or tenants. They added, however, that the building’s observation deck would have been more than sufficient for a marriage proposal.
Rooftoppers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus are known for their extreme climbs of skyscrapers around the world. They have been undertaking such ascents since 2016. In 2024, their lives became the subject of the documentary «Skywalkers: A Love Story,» whose distribution rights were acquired by Netflix following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
