Empire State Building Couple: Who They Are, What Happened & Court Update

Who Are the Empire State Building Climbers?

The couple has been identified as Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, who goes by "Ivan Beerkus" online, and Angelina "Angela" Nikolau, 33. Both are originally from Moscow, Russia, though police say they currently live in East Orange, New Jersey.

They aren't amateurs. Kuznetsov and Nikolau are self-described "rooftoppers," a niche subculture of urban climbers who scale skyscrapers and cranes, usually without ropes, harnesses, or any safety equipment, to capture dramatic photos and videos for social media. The pair were profiled in the Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which followed their unauthorized climb of Malaysia's Merdeka 118 Tower, the second-tallest building in the world at 2,227 feet. Nikolau's father, a Russian circus performer, has told reporters the pair are already married and that the New York stunt was staged as a kind of performance art.

Their online history is full of similar close calls, including a run-in with authorities in China after kissing atop a spire, an incident in Miami, and a stakeout in Malaysia where the couple reportedly went more than 20 hours without food, water, or a bathroom just to get past building security.

What Happened at the Empire State Building?

According to New York police and prosecutors, the stunt was carefully planned rather than spontaneous. Investigators believe the couple entered the Empire State Building on Tuesday night, purchased tickets, and quietly hid inside overnight rather than leaving with the crowds.

Just after 5 a.m. Wednesday, security cameras caught them slipping through a hatch on the 102nd floor. From there, prosecutors say they maneuvered around a gated area secured with cable locks and cut through two additional locks on the 104th floor, the level that provides access to the building's broadcast antenna. Court documents estimate the damage to the security door lock at roughly $2,000.

Around noon, the pair emerged at the very top of the tower and unfurled a black banner reading, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace," a nod to a well-known Jimi Hendrix quote. Cameras rolled as Kuznetsov got down on one knee and proposed. Nikolau said yes, and photos of her holding up the ring while looking out over the Manhattan skyline quickly spread across social media.

Was anyone in danger?

The building's antenna emits high-frequency radio signals strong enough to pose a health risk at close range, so officials had to power it down for about 30 minutes before officers from the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit, wearing harnesses, could climb roughly 1,250 feet to reach the couple safely.

The Empire State Building later released a statement calling the incident "unauthorized" but insisting there was never any danger to tenants, visitors, or observation deck guests, adding, somewhat wryly, that the deck "does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals."

Are the Climbers in Jail?

Not anymore. Kuznetsov and Nikolau spent their first night as an engaged couple in separate holding cells at 100 Centre Street, home to Manhattan Criminal Court. They were formally arraigned on Thursday morning, still wearing the same black climbing clothes police found them in.

What are they charged with?

Both face a string of charges: burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, criminal tampering, possession of burglar's tools, violation of a local law, and disorderly conduct. Several of the charges are felonies, and prosecutors say the pair could face up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Because the charges were not bail eligible, and given the high-profile nature of the case, the judge released the couple under supervised release rather than holding them in custody. Their next court date is set for August.

Defense attorney Jason Krinsky has pushed back publicly on the severity of the charges, arguing the district attorney's office "overcharged" the case to send a message. "As far as what I've seen, and I'm sure you have all seen, it was a message of love," Krinsky said outside court. He's also flagged a real concern for his clients beyond the criminal case itself: because Kuznetsov and Nikolau are Russian nationals, a conviction could carry deportation consequences.

Law enforcement sources have offered a less romantic theory, telling CNN that investigators believe the couple was also motivated by the potential to monetize their social media following and generate buzz for a follow-up documentary.

Why This Story Captured So Much Attention

Part of what made this stunt go viral so fast is timing. It landed in the middle of what New Yorkers have been calling a chaotic, headline-packed summer, coming just weeks after raucous citywide celebrations following the New York Knicks' first championship in 53 years, alongside a heavier-than-usual NYPD presence for World Cup matches and buzz around a highly anticipated Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wedding celebration reportedly planned at Madison Square Garden.

Building-scaling stunts also have a long, strange history in New York. French climber Alain Robert, nicknamed "Spiderman," has scaled the Empire State Building, Chicago's Willis Tower, and the Eiffel Tower over the years. And in 1974, tightrope walker Philippe Petit made headlines for his unauthorized high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Kuznetsov and Nikolau now join that unofficial, and largely unauthorized, lineage of skyscraper daredevils.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Couples that Climbed the Empire State Building