NYPD bodycam shows exactly how Empire State Building daredevil couple were caught

A New Jersey couple known for breathtaking rooftop stunts and a Netflix documentary is facing a stack of criminal charges after allegedly climbing to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurling a massive banner before getting engaged high above Manhattan.

According to the New York Police Department, Angelina Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, were taken into custody Wednesday after emergency responders reached the pair atop the iconic skyscraper.

The couple allegedly climbed onto the building’s antenna structure and displayed a banner reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”

Authorities charged the pair with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal tampering, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, possession of burglar’s tools, and violations of local law.

BREAKING: Two people have climbed to the top of the Empire State Building in New York City, holding a banner from the skyscraper’s antenna reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”

As of now it’s unclear how the pair reached the top of the… pic.twitter.com/rUPZ6nc1eK

— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 1, 2026

No injuries were reported. Body camera footage released by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch showed officers making the difficult climb to reach the pair. “How you doing?” one officer asked after reaching the summit. “You can’t be up here.”

Nikolau replied, “I’m OK,” while indicating that she and Kuznetsov spoke Russian.

After apparently removing the banner and descending to a lower platform, Kuznetsov reportedly pulled an engagement ring from his backpack and proposed. The moment quickly spread across social media.

The couple is no stranger to viral attention. Both were featured in the Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which chronicled their international reputation for scaling skyscrapers and structures around the world to capture dramatic photographs and videos.

The New York Police Department has released bodycam footage of the arrest of one of the daredevils who scaled the Empire State Building’s spire on Wednesday afternoon. https://t.co/K1OmWK0cS9 pic.twitter.com/5JfNN5ePAD

— ABC News (@ABC) July 1, 2026

The incident temporarily turned one of America’s most recognizable landmarks into a police operation.

Approximately 40 officers reportedly responded to the scene below as authorities closed portions of the area around the building and redirected pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

The Empire State Building released a statement emphasizing that the climb was unauthorized and that visitors and tenants were never in danger. “There was at no time danger to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests,” a spokesperson said.

The building’s management couldn’t resist adding a touch of humor. “It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck… does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals.”

Questions remain about how the pair gained access to restricted portions of the building.

Security experts have increasingly warned that social media fame and influencer culture continue driving risky stunts at major landmarks around the world. Several high-profile climbers have been arrested in recent years after illegally accessing bridges, skyscrapers, cranes, and construction sites to create viral content.

There was a time when a young man wanting to impress a woman bought flowers, made a reservation, and nervously asked her father for permission.

Today, apparently, you commit eight crimes and climb a 1,400-foot skyscraper. Progress.

The modern social media era has produced a fascinating species of human being. These people don’t simply want to experience life. They want to livestream life while hanging from the side of it. Everything becomes content.

Now you need a proposal that requires the Emergency Services Unit, a citywide police response, and enough criminal charges to fill a bingo card.

The Empire State Building already has an observation deck specifically designed for romantic proposals. It has elevators. Railings. Security. And, as a bonus, you usually don’t leave wearing handcuffs.

Of course, in the influencer economy, normal is worthless. If a million people have proposed from the observation deck, then the only way to stand out is to climb somewhere you’re not supposed to be and hope nobody falls to their death.

The good news is the proposal appears to have been successful. The bad news is the wedding registry may need to include a legal defense fund.

Nothing says everlasting love quite like matching court dates. Congratulations to the happy couple.