Two masked thrill-seekers who scaled the Empire State Building carrying a protest banner — before one of them got down on one knee in a high-altitude proposal — are now facing a raft of criminal charges.
Angela Nikolau, 33, and Vanya Beerkus, 32, were arrested after carrying out the daring stunt on Wednesday afternoon.
The Russian couple have been charged with multiple offenses, including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, violating a local law, criminal tampering, disorderly conduct and possession of burglar’s tools, according to ABC News.
The pair were later led out of a New York Police Department precinct in Midtown on Wednesday night.
Beerkus, dressed in black and wearing handcuffs, kept a blank expression as two officers escorted him from the building to a waiting white van.
Nikolau emerged shortly afterward, also in black, appearing to smirk as two officers walked her toward the same vehicle.
The 33-year-old appeared to be grinning as she sat inside the white van.
Nikolau and Beerkus are being taken to Manhattan Criminal Court, where they are expected to appear before a judge for arraignment.
A pair of masked daredevils were spotted climbing to the very top of the Empire State Building in New York City on Wednesday
Ivan Beerkus is transported in handcuffs in New York. He was taken into police custody after unfurling a pro-peace banner on top of the Empire State Building
Angela Nikolau is transported in New York after she climbed to the top of the massive building before getting engaged to Beerkus
The pair scaled the spire of the New York City landmark, which reaches a staggering 1,454 feet.
As they clung on, the daredevils flew a banner which read: ‘When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.’
The message appeared to be a modified quote from British politician William Gladstone, and is often misattributed to the rock star Jimi Hendrix.
After flying the banner at around noon, the climbers began to descend just after 12.30pm, before reaching a lower platform where Beerkus dropped down to one knee and proposed.
Nikolau appeared to say ‘yes’ to the astonishing proposal, as a helicopter circling the building captured the couple embracing and they removed their masks to share a kiss.
The influencer posted a video of herself atop the Empire State Building at around midday.
The stunt couple, who are known for climbing skyscrapers, starred in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.
Nikolau has posted herself scaling tall buildings and performing hair-raising acts while donning a black cat-face covering.
Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau attend Netflix’s Skywalkers: A Love Story Tribeca Film Festival Premiere
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A daredevil influencer, Angela Nikolau, posts videos of herself scaling tall buildings while donning a black cat-face covering. She is often filming with musician Vanya Beerkus
After they began their descent at around 12.30pm, Beerkus proposed to Nikolau on a lower deck of the spire, and she appeared to say yes as the pair embraced and shared a kiss
Nikolau posted a series of photos of the pair atop the Empire State Building, including a snap of the proposal and her flashy diamond ring
Tourists and onlookers gazed up in astonishment at the scene unfolding above them, as the Empire State Building’s observation deck was quickly cleared
Nikolau shared a video of herself on top of the Empire State Building at around midday
The New York City Police Department was at the scene and the couple were arrested at around 1pm
She is often videoed and pictured atop the terrifyingly tall buildings with musician Beerkus.
Nikolau posted a series of photos of the couple shortly after the stunt, including a snap of the proposal and of her flashy new diamond ring.
The New York City Police Department was at the scene and the pair were taken into custody at around 1pm.
Tourists and onlookers gazed up in astonishment at what was unfolding above them as the Empire State Building’s observation deck was quickly cleared.
Witness Julie Morris told CBS: ‘We were right at the top. I could see two people open the gates – the mesh gates – and they went up to the top.
‘I just assumed they were allowed up there.’
On the street below the iconic building, police had taped off the area and closed the street.
This is a breaking news story.
