Most people propose on a bended knee. Maybe a nice restaurant, a walk in the park, a sunset on the beach. Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov took a slightly different approach: they snuck past a locked maintenance hatch, scaled 1,454 feet of iconic New York architecture without safety equipment, and got engaged at the very tip of the Empire State Building’s antenna. Romantic? Absolutely. Legal? Not remotely.
The pair were first spotted just after noon on Wednesday, dressed in black clothing and face coverings, perched at the top of the building’s antenna. Before the ring came out, there was a message: they fastened a banner to the antenna reading “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” The quote is frequently attributed to guitarist Jimi Hendrix, but was actually spoken by 19th-century British politician William Gladstone. So — a misattributed quote, no harnesses, and a felony in progress. Peak influencer content.
Nikolau’s Instagram account promotes “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” a 2024 Netflix documentary describing the couple as “daredevil influencers” who “risk their romance, freedom and lives to climb a mega-skyscraper.” Which does explain quite a lot. After sharing some kisses at the top of the spire, the pair climbed back down to a platform, where Kuznetsov apparently popped the question. Then came the NYPD.
Nikolau, 33, and Kuznetsov, 32, were charged with felony burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal tampering, trespass, disorderly conduct, and possession of burglar’s tools. Somewhere between “I do” and “you have the right to remain silent,” the most dramatic proposal in New York history was complete.
How They Got Up There
Police believe the duo entered through a locked maintenance hatch on the 102nd floor observation deck, and likely had been observing staff movements beforehand. How they got the door open is now a major part of the investigation. One witness on the observation deck, Julie Morris, said they weren’t wearing masks when they started their climb, and she assumed they were staff because nobody stopped them.
So the world’s most famous building has better views than it does access control — filed away for future reference.
A Dangerous Place to Be in Love
It sounds thrilling on Instagram. In reality, the antenna carries significant radio frequency and electrical energy — hazards that trained professionals take classes to manage safely. The building also had to shut down its antenna due to the risk of RF exposure during the incident. That antenna, for what it’s worth, transmits broadcast signals for virtually all of New York’s local TV and radio stations.
So the proposal didn’t just disrupt one building — it temporarily knocked the city’s broadcast infrastructure offline. Love conquers all, including signal.
What Happens Next
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said the stunt put officials in a tough spot, noting that prosecutors essentially have to make an example of the pair to deter anyone else from trying the same thing. The Empire State Building’s management, to their credit, handled the press with some grace. A spokesperson called the incident “unauthorized” but noted there was no danger to tenants or visitors at any time — and cheekily added that the building’s observation deck “does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals.”
That’s one way to put it. The observation deck is open daily, no harness required, and you won’t be leaving in an NYPD van. Worth considering.