Russian Rooftoppers Scale 1,454-Foot Empire State Building, Get Engaged and Arrested
Updated
Updated · Variety · Jul 1
Russian Rooftoppers Scale 1,454-Foot Empire State Building, Get Engaged and Arrested
3 articles · Updated · Variety · Jul 1
Summary
Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau spent about 30 minutes atop the Empire State Building on Wednesday, clinging to its antenna 1,454 feet up before ending the stunt in police custody.
The Russian couple—stars of Netflix's 2024 documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story"—appeared to get engaged during the climb and waved a giant banner reading, "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."
911 calls and news helicopters followed the illegal ascent of the 102-story Midtown Manhattan landmark, though authorities have not said how the pair got onto the building.
Their documentary showed months of preparation for extreme climbs, including a 30-hour hideout inside Malaysia's 2,227-foot Merdeka Tower before they escaped without facing legal consequences.
In a 2024 interview, the pair said they had moved to New York seeking new buildings to "conquer," a plan that now appears to have culminated at the Empire State Building.