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Alex Honnold Free-Solos Taipei 101 in Live Netflix Climb as Safety Criticism Mounts

The broadcast employed a 10‑second delay with rescue plans in place to manage a lethal‑risk performance.

Overview

  • Honnold reached the top of the 508‑meter Taipei 101 without ropes in roughly 81 to 90 minutes as millions watched online and thousands gathered at the site.
  • He climbed with specialized shoes and a chalk bag, navigating an inclined steel‑and‑glass base, decorative ruyi structures, and long vertical modules up the tower body.
  • Organizers maintained constant team contact, set planned rescue points along the building, and aired the climb on a short delay to cut the feed in case of a fall.
  • Prominent climbers, including Argentine guides and instructors, criticized the feat as irresponsible or a poor example, while some peers argued that elite free‑soloists choose routes far below their technical limits.
  • Los Andes reported Honnold was paid about $500,000 for the televised event and noted his remark that he was paid for the show rather than the ascent itself, as YouTuber MrBeast said he would have paid more.