Two individuals, identified as Angela Nikolau, 33, and Vanya Beerkus, 32, have been arrested and charged with multiple offenses following their ascent of the Empire State Building on Wednesday. The pair, known for scaling tall structures, reached the building's spire, which stands at 1,454 feet.
During their climb, they unfurled a banner that read: "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." This message is a variation of a quote often attributed to William Gladstone and sometimes misattributed to Jimi Hendrix.
After displaying the banner, the climbers began their descent around 12:30 p.m. On a lower platform, Beerkus proposed to Nikolau, who appeared to accept. The couple, who were masked during the ascent, removed their masks and shared a kiss as a helicopter documented the event. Nikolau subsequently shared images of the proposal and her diamond ring on social media.
The New York City Police Department was on the scene, and the couple was taken into custody around 1 p.m. Onlookers and tourists gathered below, observing the unfolding events, and the Empire State Building's observation deck was cleared.
Charges filed against Nikolau and Beerkus include burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, violation of a local law, criminal tampering, disorderly conduct, and possession of burglar’s tools. The couple is featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story" and are known for posting videos of themselves scaling skyscrapers. Nikolau often wears a black cat-face covering in her online content.
