Russian daredevils Vanya Berkus and Angela Nikolaou are considered ambassadors for the unregulated sport of mountaineering – “roof sport”.
Published July 1, 2026
A protest and apparent marriage proposal at the top of the Empire State Building led to the arrest of two people in New York.
Video captured by a US news helicopter on Wednesday showed two people dressed in black kissing on top of the iconic skyscraper’s main antenna.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
From their position approximately 443 meters (1,454 ft) above the ground, they unfurled a banner reading: “When the power of love surpasses the love of power, the world will know peace.”
It is unclear how the couple gained access to the antenna, which is located well above the public areas of the 102-story building.
Police body camera footage released later that day showed an officer being sent to pick up the brave men.
“How are you?” He asked the couple as he walked up the stairs, breathing heavily. Although the couple’s reaction could not be heard due to the wind, the officer told them: “Well, you can’t be here.”
The arrested couple was subsequently identified as Russian citizens Vanya Berkus and Angela Nikolaou. The couple appeared in a 2024 Netflix documentary called The Rise of Skywalker, which explored their shared interest in rooftopping, an urban sport that involves climbing city buildings.
“Why should I worry? I climb roofs myself,” Dimitri Nicolaou, Angela’s father, told Reuters when asked about the stunt.
Dmitry, described by Reuters as a Russian circus performer, reportedly had advance knowledge of his daughter’s rise.
He told the news outlet: “I think that in any country, including the United States, under any constitution, it is normal to climb on the ‘roof.’
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Empire State Building characterized Wednesday’s ascension as an “unauthorized incident,” suggesting the couple should have instead purchased the building for $1,000 “Empire Happy Offer Package” to celebrate their engagement.