Couple Arrested After Climbing Empire State Building

Two people were arrested in New York after climbing to the top of the Empire State Building. A news helicopter filmed them kissing near the antenna, about 443 metres up.

They held up a banner that read, “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”

Police climbed up and told them they couldn’t stay there. The pair, Vanya Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, are Russian nationals known for “rooftopping” — climbing tall buildings. They appeared in a 2024 Netflix show about the hobby.

Angela’s father said he wasn’t worried, since he climbs roofs too, and called it normal.

The Empire State Building called the climb “unauthorized” and said the couple should have booked its official $1,000 proposal package instead.