A pair of Netflix stars were detained after illegally climbing the Empire State Building for a dramatic marriage proposal.
A daring and highly dangerous stunt above New York City has captured global attention. Rooftop climbers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, known from the Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, were arrested after illegally scaling the Empire State Building.
A Marriage Proposal 1,400 Feet Above New York City
The incident took place on July 1 around midday, when two individuals dressed in black managed to reach the building’s antenna, which rises approximately 1,454 feet (443 meters) above Midtown Manhattan. Footage from news helicopters showed the pair standing unsecured on the narrow steel structure while holding a black banner reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
The stunt escalated into a viral moment shortly after 12:30 p.m., when the couple descended to a slightly wider platform on the structure. There, Ivan Beerkus got down on one knee and proposed to Angela Nikolau high above the city.
Nikolau wore a black cat-style mask during the moment, triggering immediate online comparisons to Catwoman. Despite the obvious danger, the pair embraced, kissed, and took photos, turning the unauthorized climb into a romantic spectacle.
BREAKING: Two people have climbed to the top of the Empire State Building in New York City, holding a banner from the skyscraper's antenna reading, "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 1, 2026
As of now it's unclear how the pair reached the top of the... pic.twitter.com/rUPZ6nc1eK
Arrest After Descending From The Tower
After spending roughly an hour at height, the couple safely made their way back to more accessible parts of the building. Police then took them into custody shortly after 1 p.m. without incident. No injuries were reported.
Authorities have not yet confirmed how the pair accessed the restricted antenna area of the Empire State Building, which is heavily secured and strictly off limits to the public. An investigation into potential security breaches is ongoing.
Nikolau and Beerkus are widely known figures in the urban climbing subculture known as rooftopping, where climbers illegally scale skyscrapers without safety equipment. Their relationship and extreme climbs were previously featured in the Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.
The latest incident has once again placed the couple in the international spotlight. This time not only for breathtaking visuals and viral imagery, but also for serious legal consequences following their dramatic rooftop proposal above one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers.
Romantic or selfish? Let us know in the comments.