do you understand what a Russian couple just pulled off at the top of one of America's most secured skyscrapers, in New York City, in 2026.
they bought observation deck tickets on Tuesday.
They hid overnight inside the building.
Wednesday afternoon they climbed the antenna spire, 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan, and got engaged at the top.
> Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov (also known as Ivan Beerkus), 32 - Russian nationals, both stars of the Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story" - reached the very tip of the Empire State Building's needle without any ropes or safety equipment
> they unfurled a black banner reading "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace" - visible across the Manhattan skyline before NYPD shut down the streets below and evacuated the observation deck
> Kuznetsov got down on one knee and proposed with a ring, mid-air, at the top of the spire. She said yes. They kissed. Then they climbed back down into custody.
> police bodycam footage shows officers scaling the antenna to arrest them. Both now face felony charges: burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, and possession of burglar's tools
> the Empire State Building's own social media team trolled the stunt afterward, pointing out you can propose legally on the 86th floor for as little as $44 a ticket, or book the "Happy Ever Empire" $1,000 package with champagne included
> a viral Reddit post summed up the internet's reaction: "more people have been arrested for climbing the Empire State Building than for being in the Epstein Files"
They risked a felony record and a 1,454-foot fall for a proposal that legally costs 44 dollars.
Love, apparently, does not do terms and conditions.
BREAKING: A Manhattan judge granted the alleged Empire State Building climbers supervised release… and they shared a massive kiss before descending the subway stairs. Story coming @Gothamist
JUST IN: After two people climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner on top of its spire Wednesday afternoon, one of the climbers appeared to propose to the other. https://t.co/ngG3jOeTBU
JUST IN: After two people climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner on top of its spire Wednesday afternoon, one of the climbers appeared to propose to the other. https://t.co/ngG3jOeTBU