Overview
- The two masked climbers reached the Empire State Building antenna and were detained without incident on Wednesday, July 1, New York police said.
- They unfurled a banner reading a message about love and power and staged what looked like a marriage proposal before officers moved in.
- Multiple outlets identified the pair as Russian rooftopping influencers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, who were profiled in a 2024 Netflix documentary.
- Police reported no injuries, said charges have not yet been announced, and described the case as an active investigation into the illegal ascent.
- The antenna is closed to the public and heavily monitored, and the stunt highlights the risks of illegal high-altitude 'rooftopping' and potential security gaps at major landmarks.