Empire State Building Proposal: Who Are Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus? Viral ‘Rooftopper’ Power Couple Part of Netflix Documentary ‘Skywalkers: A Love Story’
Rooftopper power couple Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, stars of the Netflix documentary 'Skywalkers: A Love Story', were arrested on July 1, 2026, after Ivan proposed to Angela atop the Empire State Building's spire. Learn more about their daring stunt, the charges they face, and details on their thrilling documentary, released on Netflix on July 19, 2024.
In a move that epitomises their high-stakes romance, Russian daredevil 'rooftoppers' Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus aka Ivan Kuznetsov created a global spectacle on July 1, 2026, with an audacious climb of the Empire State Building, culminating in a dramatic marriage proposal high above Manhattan. The new power couple, already internationally recognised for their death-defying feats and subjects of the acclaimed Netflix documentary, Skywalkers: A Love Story, were subsequently arrested by the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
New York Couple Scales Empire State Building for Proposal - Watch Video:
Angela and Ivan scaled the iconic skyscraper's spire, reaching an astonishing 1,454 feet above street level without safety gear. Once at the summit, they unfurled a black banner emblazoned with the quote, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” This quote is often misattributed to Jimi Hendrix but was actually spoken by British politician William Gladstone. Empire State Building Proposal Stunt: Couple Scales 1,454-Foot Antenna, Unfurls Peace Banner, Arrested (Watch Videos).
Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau Arrested by NYPD, Share a Kiss Upon Release
Moments later, Ivan Beerkus got down on one knee and proposed to Angela Nikolau, who accepted. Their romantic gesture quickly turned into a legal predicament. Following their descent, Nikolau and Beerkus were taken into custody and charged with multiple offenses, including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, criminal tampering, disorderly conduct, and possession of burglar's tools. Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus Climb Empire State Building Antenna, Unfurl Peace Banner During Proposal (See Pics and Videos).
After being released from custody, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus walked out in style from the New York City Criminal Court on July 2, 2026. On the insistence of a paparazzo, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus shared a kiss at the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall train station.
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus Kiss After Release from Custody - See Picture:
Who Are Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus?
Angela Nikolau, born on June 24, 1993, is currently 33 years old. Ivan Beerkus, whose real name is Ivan Artemovich Kuznetsov, was born on May 11, 1994, making him 32 years old. Both are Russian 'rooftoppers' who have garnered a massive online following by illegally scaling some of the world's tallest structures, often without safety equipment. As of July 3, 2026, Angela Nikolau has 2.8 million followers on Instagram, while Ivan Beerkus has 7,43,000 followers on the same social media platform.
Angela Nikolau, who hails from a circus family, is known for incorporating acrobatic poses into her high-altitude photography, distinguishing her work with an artistic flair. Their partnership began around 2016, leading them to conquer numerous global landmarks. One of their most notorious climbs, central to their Netflix documentary, was the Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was the world's second-tallest building at the time of their ascent in December 2022.
Angela Nikolau Posts About Empire State Building Proposal - See Pics:
Details about Netflix Documentary 'Skywalkers: A Love Story':
- Directors: Jeff Zimbalist, Maria Bukhonina
- Producers: Jeff Zimbalist, Maria Bukhonina, Tamir Ardon, Chris Smith
- Starring: Angela Nikolau, Ivan Beerkus
- Production Companies: All Rise Films
- Distributor: Netflix
- Netflix Release Date (Global): July 19, 2024
- Running Time: 100 minutes
- Rating: R for language
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 74% Critics, 94% Audience
- Metacritic Score: 64/100.
The Empire State Building proposal serves as a real-time continuation of Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus' extraordinary, boundary-pushing narrative, blurring the lines between extreme sport, art, and an undeniable love story, even as it lands them in legal trouble.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 03, 2026 09:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).