Couple Proposes Marriage Atop Empire State Building Antenna, Faces Arrest

A couple stunned New York City last Wednesday by climbing to the top of the Empire State Building's antenna, 443 meters above the ground, to display a peace sign and get engaged. Angela Nicolaou, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, both known urban climbers, bypassed a locked maintenance hatch to reach the summit without safety harnesses. At the peak, they unfurled a large banner quoting, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace," a phrase often misattributed to Jimi Hendrix but originally from British politician William Gladstone.

The highlight came as Kuznetsov proposed on one knee from a lower platform hundreds of meters above the city streets. Nicolaou accepted, slipped on the ring, and the couple shared a kiss, all captured by social media cameras. However, their celebration was cut short when New York Police Department's Emergency Service Unit intercepted and arrested them around 1 p.m. during their descent.

They were charged with serious offenses including trespassing, reckless endangerment, burglary, and possession of burglary tools. Safety experts warned the climb was extremely hazardous due to the height and the active electrical and broadcasting equipment on the antenna. A spokesperson for the Empire State Building called the stunt unauthorized and noted the building offers an official, safe marriage proposal package on the 86th floor for $1,000.

Nicolaou's father, a Russian circus artist, defended the couple, saying such rooftop climbing is normal for them. The pair joins a small group of adventurers who have scaled the iconic skyscraper, such as French climber Alain Robert and actor Jared Leto, though Leto's climb was officially sanctioned. This unauthorized ascent ended with the couple facing legal proceedings in Manhattan court.