Watch: Russian couple’s dramatic proposal atop Empire State Building sparks global buzz

Russian social media personalities Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus were booked by New York police after illegally climbing the Empire State Building and staging a marriage proposal. Their dangerous stunt, captured on video, has gone viral and triggered an investigation.

By Panyala Sukumari

Hyderabad: A Russian couple are now making global headlines after being booked by the New York police on charges of burglary, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief, along with misdemeanour and criminal trespass, for climbing atop the Empire State Building.

The Russian couple illegally climbed to the top of the building for allegedly staging a marriage proposal. Videos of the incident, now known as ‘The Empire State Building proposal’, soon went viral on social media.

The proposal has since made headlines as popular Russian roof climbers and social media personalities Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus climbed the Empire State Building without any safety equipment and unfurled a banner that read, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace,” a quote often attributed to American guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

The couple were dressed in all-black outfits and covered their faces with masks when they were seen clinging to the structure while displaying the banner. Some videos show that Ivan got down on one knee and proposed to Angela right after unfurling the banner.

The New York Police Department monitored the couple’s stunt through drones and a helicopter and arrested them with the help of members of the department’s elite emergency service unit, which specialises in rescues at high altitudes.

What was meant to be a thrilling proposal for the couple has now landed them in police custody. Authorities are now investigating how the pair managed to bypass security and reach a restricted area of the building without being detected.

Meanwhile, the Empire State Building’s management noted that visitors can arrange safe and legal proposals at the observation deck.

According to The Guardian, the owners of the Empire State Building said: “It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck, atop the World’s Most Famous Building in the centre of New York City, does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals.”

The incident has stirred a buzz online, with many social media users sharing images and videos and reacting to the dramatic and dangerous proposal, while debating the symbolism of the message and the risks involved in the stunt.