"The couple who scaled the Empire State Building to propose and unfurl a peace banner were released on supervised bail after being charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief, according to multiple reports. Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, known as Beerkus, faced arraignment on July 2, 2026, following their stunt that included climbing 1,454 feet to the spire, where they displayed a banner reading ‘When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.’ The NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit intervened to safely retrieve them, with officials acknowledging the risk involved in the rescue. The pair, who were released without bail, are due back in court on August 24."
The Stunt and the Charges
Bypassing Security at the Empire State Building
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, a Russian couple known for extreme climbing stunts, scaled the Empire State Building’s spire on July 1, 2026, to stage a proposal and display a peace banner. The duo, who reside in East Orange, New Jersey, were charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and other offenses after police intervened. According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), they accessed the building by breaking a lock on a 104th-floor security door and used tools to bypass a hatch on the 102nd floor, as reported by ABC7NY (Source 1).
The couple’s lawyer, Jason Krinsky, argued the charges were "overcharged," citing that the Empire State Building’s management stated there was no risk to tenants or visitors. "Even the Empire State Building’s own people said that there was no risk or danger to any of the tenants, to any of the guests on the observation deck, or anyone in the building," Krinsky said, per ABC7NY (Source 1). However, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized the danger faced by officers during the rescue. "As for what I would call the harrowing body camera video that we released last night, recorded by the officers responding to that stunt, it really can take your breath away," she stated (Source 1).
The Proposal and the Banner
The Peace Banner and Spire Proposal
The couple’s stunt unfolded in a dramatic sequence: after reaching the 1,454-foot spire, they unfurled a black banner with the message "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." The quote, widely attributed to Jimi Hendrix but originally from 19th-century politician William Gladstone, became a focal point of the incident (Source 5). As they descended, Kuznetsov reportedly proposed to Nikolau, with the couple sharing a kiss before being taken into custody.
The event was captured on video, including body camera footage from the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit, which scaled the spire to retrieve the climbers. "They didn’t just stumble into that hatch. There was what we would call pre-observational surveillance. Someone cased the joint if you will," said Greg Sanfilippo, a law enforcement official, per ABC7NY (Source 1). The couple’s actions drew both admiration and criticism, with some calling the stunt a "message of love" and others condemning the risk to public safety.
The Legal and Safety Debate
Conflicting Views on Public Safety Risks
The incident sparked a debate over the legality and safety of the climb. While the Empire State Building’s management stated there was "no danger to tenants, visitors, or observation deck guests," the NYPD emphasized the risks posed to officers during the rescue. "The danger here, the recklessness, is obvious and can’t be overstated," said former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, per CNN (Source 12).
Sources differ on how the couple gained access to the spire. The New York Times (Source 4) reported that investigators believe they entered through a tenant-side entrance, while The Guardian (Source 4) noted the broken lock on the 104th-floor door. The NYPD’s body camera footage, released after the incident, showed the officers’ harrowing climb to retrieve the pair, with one unit member graduating from the Emergency Service Unit (ESU) school just days earlier (Source 2).
The Documentary and the Couple’s Background
The Rooftoping History of Nikolau and Kuznetsov
Nikolau and Kuznetsov, who are featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, have a history of "rooftopping" — unauthorized climbs of skyscrapers. The film, directed by Jeff Zimbalist, follows their global adventures, including an illegal ascent of Malaysia’s Merdeka 118 tower (Source 12). Their stunt at the Empire State Building was their latest in a series of high-profile climbs, with Nikolau’s Instagram account boasting 1.8 million followers and Kuznetsov’s (under the alias Beerkus) reaching half a million (Source 4).
The couple’s attorney, Krinsky, defended their actions as a "message of love," stating, "As far as what I’ve seen, and I’m sure you have all seen, it was a message of love. You know, that’s a nice thing," per ABC7NY (Source 1). However, critics argued the stunt prioritized spectacle over safety. "The last thing that people who are responsible for the Empire State Building want is to turn this place into a target for that sort of activity, because ultimately it will end in some sort of tragedy," McCabe said (Source 12).
What Comes Next?
The couple faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal trespass. Their next court date is scheduled for August 24, 2026, where they will likely address the allegations. Meanwhile, the Empire State Building’s management has reiterated its stance that the climb was "unauthorized" but emphasized no harm came to visitors or tenants.
The incident has also drawn attention to the broader culture of "rooftopping," with some praising the couple’s creativity and others condemning the risks. As the legal process unfolds, the case raises questions about the balance between personal expression and public safety in iconic landmarks.
"Skywalkers: A Love Story," the documentary featuring the couple, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024 and highlights their global climbs, including the Merdeka 118 tower in Malaysia. The film’s director, Jeff Zimbalist, described the pair’s journey as a metaphor for "choosing each other on the most epic scale," according to The Deseret News (Source 12).
The Empire State Building’s observation deck, which offers a "practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals," has since poked fun at the incident on social media, joking about "making this week all about me" in reference to Taylor Swift’s rumored wedding at Madison Square Garden (Source 9).
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