Viral compilation videos of the heart-stopping stunt are blowing up online, and for good reason.
A pair of professional daredevils turned the Empire State Building into the ultimate romantic backdrop on Wednesday, July 1, scaling all the way to the tip of the iconic spire before one dropped to a knee and popped the question.
But the fairy-tale moment quickly turned into a real-life crime drama when NYPD officers met the couple on their way down and slapped on the handcuffs.
Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Beerkus (also known as Vanya Beerkus or Ivan Kuznetsov), 32, both Russian nationals living in East Orange, New Jersey, are the stars of the Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story. They’re famous “rooftoppers” who climb skyscrapers around the world without safety gear for jaw-dropping photos and videos.
Their latest feat?
Sneaking into the Empire State Building the night before, hiding inside overnight, and then breaking through a locked maintenance hatch and security door on the upper floors to reach the restricted antenna area more than 1,300 feet up.
Around midday Wednesday, the black-clad duo, some footage shows them in masks, reached the very top of the 1,454-foot spire. They unfurled a large black banner that read: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
Helicopters and drones swarmed as crowds on the ground watched in disbelief. The pair stayed up there long enough to make their point before carefully descending the narrow metal latticework to a wider ledge.
That’s when Ivan got down on one knee. Angela said yes. They kissed, hugged, and snapped selfies, her showing off the ring on camera. Compilations of the raw helicopter and news footage capture every pulse-pounding second.No one was hurt. But the stunt triggered a massive NYPD response, with the department’s elite Emergency Service Unit scaling the spire themselves to bring the pair down safely.
Once on the ground, the lovebirds were arrested without incident.
Prosecutors hit them with a laundry list of charges, including:
Burglary (felony)
Reckless endangerment (felony)
Criminal mischief
Criminal trespass
Disorderly conduct
Possession of burglar’s tools
Criminal tampering
And other violations
Authorities say the risky climb endangered the climbers, responding officers, and potentially the public.
The couple spent their first night as an engaged pair in separate holding cells. On Thursday morning, they were arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court wearing the same black outfits from the climb. A judge released them on supervised release. Their next court date is set for August 24.
After walking out of court, the pair shared a passionate kiss in front of cameras. Ivan reportedly told reporters, “We believe in love.”Their defense attorney called the charges overblown, arguing there was no real danger to building occupants or visitors. The Empire State Building itself noted that no tenants or observation deck guests were ever at risk and pointed out that the landmark already offers plenty of memorable (and legal) proposal spots on its observation decks.
Whether this sky-high stunt was pure romance, performance art, or both, the footage — and the compilations flooding social media — have the internet hooked.
One thing’s for sure: These two just gave “love is in the air” a whole new meaning… and a pair of matching bracelets from the NYPD.
