Skywalkers Scale Empire State Building for Peace, Announce Engagement, and Face Arrest

Climbing enthusiasts Ivan “Vanya” Beerkus and Angela Nikolau have made a name for themselves by scaling skyscrapers and capturing stunning photos at dizzying heights. Their daring escapades were featured in a 2024 Netflix documentary titled *Skywalkers: A Love Story*. Recently, they took their thrill-seeking to new heights—literally—by hanging from the top of the Empire State Building while news helicopters hovered nearby, drawing the attention of onlookers online.

At first glance, their ascent appeared to be a political statement. Dressed in all black with bandanas and masks, the duo unfurled a large banner from the building’s spire that proclaimed, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” This was no protest, though.

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.”

As of now it’s unclear how the pair reached the top of the…pic.twitter.com/rUPZ6nc1eK

Later in their stunt, they descended to a platform just below the needle, where one of them got down on one knee to propose. The woman accepted the ring and even posed for photos, extending her hand for the perfect shot. I can only imagine the nerves—heights make me uneasy, and I’d probably drop that ring right through the grates!

For this viral couple, though, it was likely just another day in their adventurous lives. Their Netflix documentary showcased their climb of Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, the world’s second-tallest building at 2,227 feet, while the Empire State Building stands at just under 1,500 feet to its pinnacle.

JUST IN: After two people climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner on top of its spire Wednesday afternoon, one of the climbers appeared to propose to the other.https://t.co/ngG3jOeTBUpic.twitter.com/PhubQpnRH6

— ABC News (@ABC)July 1, 2026

Of course, their actions were illegal, and the NYPD eventually took the couple into custody. It remains uncertain whether they will face formal charges or simply receive a warning, possibly to avoid upsetting their online fanbase. Some might speculate this was a stunt for marketing purposes, but reports indicate that their Empire State Building climb was not linked to any Netflix project, past or present.

Ultimately, some people just want to conquer tall structures and look good while doing it. And with the heat index in NYC soaring to a “feels-like” temperature of 106 degrees, they were likely feeling the heat in more ways than one.