NEW YORK — An unbelievable and extremely dangerous scene unfolded at noon on Wednesday (July 1, 2026) in the heart of New York City, when a couple known as «rooftoppers» managed to bypass security measures and climb to the top of the antenna Empire State Building and to make a spectacular marriage proposal, while also sending a global message of peace.
The two climbers, dressed in black and wearing masks, were spotted by passersby and authorities literally hanging in midair at the highest point of the iconic skyscraper—at a height of 443 meters from the sidewalk—holding a large black banner.
The Message and the Marriage Proposal in the Void
The couple unfurled the banner bearing the famous anti-war slogan, written in white capital letters:
«When the power of love triumphs over the love of power, the world knows peace»
(«When the power of love conquers the love of POWER, the world will know peace»)
After remaining there for about 30 minutes, keeping their balance with one hand on the antenna while New York City Police Department (NYPD) drones and helicopters watched them, they began to descend toward a slightly lower, narrow platform at the base of the antenna.
That's where the second part of their plan unfolded: The man got down on one knee, took out a ring, and marriage proposal to his partner Koh. She accepted, and the couple embraced and kissed on air, before she later posted a photo of the ring on social media.
Who's Behind Stunt?
According to U.S. authorities and international media, these are the famous Russian extreme climbers Angela Nikolaou (33 years old) and Ivan Berkus (32 years old), who have become world-famous for their illegal climbs—without safety equipment—on the world’s tallest buildings (in fact, their story has even been made into a successful Netflix documentary titled «Skywalkers: A Love Story»).
The Police Intervention and the Arrests
The authorities responded immediately. A large contingent of NYPD officers, including the Emergency Service Unit, rushed to the scene.
As soon as the couple climbed down from the dangerous parts of the antenna, the police officers were waiting for them and They were arrested on charges of illegal entry and trespassing.
So far, it remains unclear how they managed to bypass the building’s draconian security measures and gain access to the internal staircase leading to the bell tower and the antenna—an area strictly off-limits to the public. The police investigation is ongoing.
