Duo who climbed to top of Empire State Building are stars of Netflix doc 'Skywalkers: A love story'

The banner reads, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace."

Published: July 1, 2026 12:30pm

Updated: July 1, 2026 3:01pm

Two people climbed to the very top of the Empire State Building in New York City on Wednesday. The individuals were later taken into custody and charges are pending. 

The couple later revealed themselves as Russian free climbers Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, who were featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A love story." 

The couple is known for climbing skyscrapers without ropes or harnesses, according to Variety

They attached a banner to the antenna that extends from the top of the Empire State Building. The banner read, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace."

After police responded, the pair appeared to take the banner down and climb down from the antenna to a lower platform. Then, one of them appeared to remove an engagement ring from a backpack, get down on one knee, and propose, according to Fox News

It's not immediately clear how they were able to get to the top of the building. 

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.
  • Just the News Spotlight

    Support Just the News