Climbing content creators Ivan “Vanya” Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, were arrested after scaling the Empire State Building. The pair reached the skyscraper's antenna, unfurled a banner that read, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace,” and were subsequently taken into custody by the NYPD.
During the ascent, one of the climbers proposed to the other, who accepted the proposal. The stunt, which involved the two dressed in black with masks and bandanas, drew the attention of local news helicopters. The banner's message, however, was not indicative of a political protest.
The duo is known for scaling extreme heights; their Netflix documentary followed their climb of Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, the world's second-tallest building. The Empire State Building, in comparison, measures just under 1,500 feet to the top of its needle.
While the stunt generated significant online attention and was documented by news outlets, it is considered illegal. It remains unclear if Beerkus and Nikolau will face formal charges. Representatives for the Empire State Building and Netflix have indicated that the event was not connected to any past or future Netflix projects.