Couple Climbs Empire State Building, Proposes at Summit, Then Arrested

An unusual event unfolded in New York City on Wednesday when Angela Nicolaou and Ivan Birkos climbed to the top of the Empire State Building's spire, nearly 443 meters (1,454 feet) above Midtown Manhattan sidewalks. Wearing black sleeveless outfits and cat masks, the couple unfurled a large black banner with white capital letters reading, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." They remained at the summit for about 30 minutes before descending toward the observation deck, which appeared to have been cleared of visitors.

Upon reaching the base, Birkos knelt and presented Nicolaou with an object believed to be an engagement ring, after which they kissed and embraced. The stunt caused traffic disruptions in the area for about an hour, and a significant police and rescue presence awaited them below. Although Nicolaou accepted the proposal, local police stated the ring would be confiscated as evidence in an ongoing investigation.

Nicolaou’s Instagram features numerous photos of the couple atop several of the world’s tallest and most famous buildings, including the San Francisco Bay Bridge and Kuala Lumpur’s Merdeka 118 tower, the second tallest building globally. The couple’s daring climb and public proposal at one of New York’s most iconic landmarks drew widespread attention and legal consequences.