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An East Orange, New Jersey, couple is facing a slew of criminal charges after climbing on top of the Empire State Building Wednesday while holding a banner reading “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
Following a response by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) Emergency Services Unit, the masked pair, later identified as Netflix stars Angelina Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, appeared to take down the banner and climb down from the antenna to a lower platform.
Kuznetsov then appeared to pull an engagement ring out of a backpack, get down on one knee and propose to Nikolau.
The couple was taken into custody and is charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, violation of local law, possession of burglar’s tools, criminal tampering, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, NYPD officials told Fox News Digital.
No injuries were reported.
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Bodycam video shared by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch Wednesday afternoon showed at least two officers trekking up the skyscraper and meeting Nikolau and Kuznetsov, who appeared to be unharnessed.
“How you doing?” one of the officers asked the couple. “You can’t be up here.”
“I’m OK,” Nikolau replied, noting she and Kuznetsov speak Russian.
A person proposing on the Empire State Building spire. (WNYW)
In addition to the officers who climbed the tower, roughly 40 police officers responded to the front of the building and directed traffic. The entrance on Fifth Ave., between West 33rd and 34th streets, was blocked off.
Pedestrians were seen gathering on every corner surrounding the building watching the situation unfold.
An Empire State Building spokesperson described the incident as “unauthorized,” noting NYPD helped to resolve the situation.
“There was at no time danger to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests,” the spokesperson said. “It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck, atop the World’s Most Famous Building in the center of New York City, does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals…”
Two people were spotted holding a banner on top of the Empire State Building in New York City on July 1, 2026. (WNYW)
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It remains unclear how Nikolau and Beerkus, previously featured on Netflix’s “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” were able to scale the building.
They later posted photos of the engagement ring on Instagram from atop the tower.
Netflix did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Couple shares engagement photos atop Empire State Building after daring climb. (INSTAGRAM/angela_nikolau)
Counting the spire and antenna, the skyscraper stands 1,454 feet tall.
It is currently the fourth-tallest building in New York City, the sixth-tallest in the U.S. and the 43rd tallest tower in the world.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has yet to publicly respond to the public stunt. His office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.