An adventurous pair made a bold vertical hike to the top of the Empire State Building in New York City on Wednesday, July 1, apparently so they could get engaged there. (You could be wondering how tall that magnificent edifice is. In fact, the Art Deco masterpiece completed in 1931 is 1,454 feet tall.)
Videos by Wide Open Country
They Have Allegedly Been Identified
ABC7 Eyewitness News identified the pair as Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau. A marriage proposal evidently took place at the lofty NYC perch. Per the outlet, "...Beerkus proposed to Nikolau, pulling out a ring. After saying, 'Yes,' Nikolau admired her new engagement ring and wore it as she climbed down."
The couple was reportedly depicted in a 2024 Netflix documentary titled Skywalkers: A Love Story. Variety called them "Russian rooftoppers." They were reportedly taken into custody after scaling the ESB, so this is definitely not a climb they will soon be repeating.
The Pair Carried a Banner Bearing a Quote
According to CBS News, "Two people climbed to the very top of New York City's Empire State Building, unfurled a banner, and then apparently got engaged Wednesday afternoon." The couple, who were believed to be masked, began their trek to the top at noon. They had with them a banner that read, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." It was black with white lettering.
The slogan on it is almost word-for-word a quote often attributed to the late Woodstock-era musician Jimi Hendrix. He died in 1970. However, ABC7 Eyewitness News states that it's actually derived from a quote by William Gladstone, a 19th century British prime minister.
A Tourist Allegedly Was Among Those Who Spotted the Duo
Police claimed that the two were posting on social media during their high-flying escapade, per CBS News. In fact, one spectator said she allegedly saw the couple on the building. "We were right at the top. I could see two people open the gates - the mesh gates - they opened the gates, and they went up to the top," witness Julie Morris said. "I just assumed they were allowed up there."
