Empire State Building Proposal Stunt: Couple Scales 1,454-Foot Antenna, Unfurls Peace Banner, Arrested (Watch Videos)
Two people got to the top of the Empire State Building's antenna and unfurled a banner about "the power of love" at midday Tuesday, before starting to descend, embracing, taking selfies and ultimately being arrested.
NEW YORK (AP): Two people got to the top of the Empire State Building's antenna and unfurled a banner about "the power of love" at midday Tuesday, before starting to descend, embracing, taking selfies and ultimately being arrested. Dressed in black and wearing masks — but not tethers, it appeared — the two balanced on a narrow ledge and appeared to kiss atop the New York skyscraper's antenna, which rises 1,454 feet (443 meters) above midtown Manhattan, news helicopter video showed. The banner, reading "when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace," waved in the wind. Angela Nikolau and Beerkus Climb Empire State Building Antenna, Unfurl Peace Banner During Proposal (See Pics and Videos).
Just after 12:30 p.m., they began to climb down, efficiently picking their way along the latticework of metal to a wider ledge, where one seemed to set up a piece of electronic equipment and got down on one knee. After the two kissed again and hugged, the other person took selfies with an outstretched left hand, as if examining a ring. Police took them into custody after 1 p.m. No one was injured, police said.
Two Climb Empire State Building Antenna to Display Peace Banner
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
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 1, 2026
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/ngG3jOeTBU pic.twitter.com/PhubQpnRH6
— ABC News (@ABC) July 1, 2026
Photos of the banner that was placed on top of The Empire State Building minutes ago + what looks like a proposal. The photos are straight from the Instagram account of Angela Nikolau who just put these up (one of the two people who climbed this). #EmpireStateBuilding pic.twitter.com/TJGglZfqsD
— Tommy DiDario (@tommydidario) July 1, 2026
It wasn't clear how the pair gained access to the antenna, which rises well above public areas of the 102-story building. There was no immediate reply to a message to the building's management. Daredevils have previously climbed the antenna and other parts of the Empire State Building. Those ascents have largely been unauthorized, but actor and musician Jared Leto was allowed to climb up to the base of the antenna from the 86th floor in 2023 to promote a tour.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 01, 2026 11:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
