Meet Angela Nikolai and Ivan Kuznetsov, the Russian couple arrested after climbing the Empire State Building in New York to propose
Proposing on top of one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world sounds like something out of a movie. But for Russian urban climbers Angela Nikolao and Ivan Kuznetsov, it all ended in handcuffs rather than a happy ending.On July 1, the couple illegally scaled the antenna spire of the Empire State Building in New York City, reaching approximately 1,454 feet (443 meters) above street level. Dressed in black and with no visible security equipment, they entered the landmark’s off-limits area and unfurled a huge black banner that read: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world knows peace.” Soon after, Kuznetsov got down on one knee and proposed to Nikolai. She accepted, and they embraced high above Manhattan.The stunt attracted the attention of police and emergency services. NYPD officers, including members of the emergency services team, climbed to the top of the building and escorted the couple down. They were arrested without incident and later faced multiple charges, including burglary, criminal trespassing and reckless endangerment. Investigators are still probing how they managed to gain access to the building’s restricted maintenance area despite extensive security measures.Nikolai and Kuznetsov are no strangers to dangerous climbs. They are among the most well-known figures in the urban climbing or “roof climbing” community, in which participants climb skyscrapers and other tall buildings without using ropes or harnesses. Their climbs took them to some of the world’s tallest buildings, attracting millions of views on social media.In 2024, their story reached a wider audience with the Netflix documentary Skywalker: A Love Story. The film follows their relationship and documents several of their high-stakes adventures, including climbs in Asia and Europe. This documentary shows the extraordinary planning behind their expedition and the dangers involved in their hobby.Empire State Building management condemned this latest move, noting that the building already offers official proposal packages for visitors who want a memorable engagement without breaking the law. Authorities also confirmed that access to parts of the observatory was temporarily restricted while emergency crews dealt with the incident.The proposal went viral on social media, with officials stressing that the climb was illegal and potentially dangerous. The Empire State Building remains one of the safest landmarks in New York City, which makes this incident even more surprising.
