Who Are Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus? Skywalkers Couple Empire State Climb Explained

Russian rooftoppers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus climbed to the top of the Empire State Building’s spire on Wednesday, unfurled a pro-peace banner, and got engaged nearly 1,454 feet above Manhattan before being taken into police custody.

The stunt, which unfolded just after noon and lasted roughly 30 to 45 minutes, prompted an NYPD helicopter response and a temporary closure of the building’s observation deck. The pair, known for starring in Netflix’s 2024 documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” face possible charges including trespassing and reckless endangerment.

What Happened During the Empire State Building Climb 2026

Police received 911 calls around noon on Wednesday, July 1, after bystanders spotted two figures dressed entirely in black scaling the antenna structure atop the Empire State Building. The climbers wore face coverings, in violation of the building’s posted rules against masks and costumes.

Once at the top, the pair unfurled a large black banner with white lettering that read: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” The phrase is widely attributed to musician Jimi Hendrix but was originally spoken by 19th-century British statesman William Gladstone.

The NYPD dispatched its Emergency Service Unit, and officers eventually climbed the spire themselves to reach the pair. Rather than descending immediately, the couple spent close to half an hour at the top, embracing and taking in the view before starting their descent.

Pro-Peace Banner and Dramatic Proposal

As the climbers made their way down onto a platform on the spire, the man dropped to one knee. Video captured by onlookers and helicopter cameras showed him producing a ring and proposing. The woman said yes, put on the ring, and continued the climb down while wearing it.

Photos later shared to the couple’s Instagram account showed the same moment: one partner kneeling with a hand over the heart, the other holding a ring. The banner was recovered by police once the couple reached the ground.

According to police sources, officers took the pair into custody around 1 p.m. without incident. The Empire State Building’s observation deck, which had been cleared as a precaution, reopened later that afternoon. A spokesperson for the building said in a statement that there was at no time danger to tenants, visitors, or Observation Deck guests.

Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus: The Skywalkers Couple

The identities of the climbers were confirmed hours later through the couple’s own social media accounts and corroborated by multiple news outlets. Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Beerkus, 32, are Russian nationals known online as “rooftoppers,” a term for people who scale buildings, cranes, and other tall structures, typically without ropes, harnesses, or permission from property owners.

The couple built a large social media following by posting photos and videos of themselves standing at the edges of skyscrapers in cities around the world. They also sell photography and merchandise, including branded balaclavas, through their online presence.

Their Rooftopping Career and Netflix Documentary

Nikolau and Beerkus are the central subjects of “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” a 2024 documentary directed by Jeff Zimbalist and co-directed by Maria Bukhonina. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival before streaming on Netflix.

The documentary follows the couple as they plan and execute a climb of Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the world’s second-tallest structure at roughly 2,227 feet. The film shows the pair spending around 30 hours inside the building, camping out and avoiding construction crews before reaching the top and then leaving the country ahead of possible legal consequences.

Deadline reported that Wednesday’s Empire State Building stunt was not filmed for or connected to Netflix in any way. Netflix declined to comment on the incident.

🔥🚨 BREAKING — The couple seen atop the Empire State Building have been IDENTIFIED as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus.

The couple released a Netflix documentary in 2024 called “Skywalkers: A Love Story.”

They supposedly ” Found Love Thousands of feet in the sky, illegally… pic.twitter.com/4VQ1pATPoo

— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) July 1, 2026

Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus Relationship

Nikolau and Beerkus have been a couple for several years, with their romantic relationship forming a central thread of their public persona and their documentary. In a 2024 interview with Variety, the pair said they had recently relocated to New York City and were searching for new challenges, hinting that certain buildings remained on their list without naming them directly.

How They Met and Fell in Love

Public reporting on the exact circumstances of how the couple first met has been limited, though both have described bonding over a shared passion for extreme heights and rooftopping culture, a niche but growing subculture built around unauthorized access to tall structures. Their relationship and climbing partnership developed together, with the two frequently appearing in each other’s photography and videos scaling buildings, cranes, and bridges across multiple countries.

Engagement and Future Plans

Wednesday’s proposal atop the Empire State Building marks a significant, highly public milestone for the couple. Neither Nikolau nor Beerkus has publicly detailed wedding plans as of this report. Given their history of using extreme locations for major life moments, further public appearances tied to the engagement would not be out of character.

Controversy and Legal Issues

The climb has drawn criticism from safety advocates and building officials over the risk posed by unauthorized ascents of occupied structures. Police said charges were pending as of Wednesday afternoon, with reckless endangerment and trespassing cited as likely counts.

Arrest and Charges

The NYPD confirmed both individuals were taken into custody following the descent. According to NBC New York, neither Nikolau nor Beerkus has a known criminal history in New York City. Investigators have not disclosed how the pair gained access to the antenna structure, which sits well above the areas open to the public.

The Empire State Building’s website and posted policies explicitly prohibit unauthorized climbing, as well as masks and costumes, both of which the couple violated during Wednesday’s stunt.

Previous Climbs and Risks

The Merdeka 118 climb featured in “Skywalkers” is far from the couple’s only high-profile ascent. Their social media accounts document climbs of numerous skyscrapers and landmarks internationally, frequently performed without safety harnesses. Rooftopping carries significant risk of injury or death, and several prominent figures in the subculture have died attempting similar stunts in recent years.

Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus Now: Life After Skywalkers

Since the release of “Skywalkers: A Love Story” in 2024, Nikolau and Beerkus have continued performing unauthorized climbs while expanding their public profile through media appearances, including attending the film’s Tribeca Film Festival premiere in June 2024. Wednesday’s Empire State Building stunt represents their most prominent U.S. appearance since relocating to New York.

The incident is under active investigation, and this story may be updated as new details, including formal charges, become available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus?

They are a Russian couple known as “rooftoppers,” recognized for climbing skyscrapers around the world, often without safety equipment. They are the central subjects of Netflix’s 2024 documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story.”

Did Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus really get engaged on the Empire State Building?

Yes. Video and photos from July 1, 2026, show Ivan Beerkus proposing to Angela Nikolau on the building’s spire after the pair unfurled a pro-peace banner. Nikolau said yes and wore the ring during their descent.

Were Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus arrested?

Yes. NYPD officers took both individuals into custody around 1 p.m. on July 1, 2026, after they descended from the spire. Charges including trespassing and reckless endangerment were reported as pending.

What did the banner on the Empire State Building say?

The banner read, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace,” a quote commonly attributed to Jimi Hendrix but originally spoken by British politician William Gladstone.

Is Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus’s climb connected to Netflix?

No. Despite the couple’s fame from the Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” Deadline reported the Empire State Building stunt was not filmed for or affiliated with Netflix, and the company declined to comment.

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