Meet Angela Nikolau And Ivan Beerkus, Skywalker Couple Arrested After Empire State Building Proposal
Netflix's 'Skywalker' couple was arrested by the NYPD after their daring stunt at the Empire State Building. The couple got arrested and engaged in the same breath; let's take a look at who they are.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleEmpire State Building is one of the most historic man-made structures in the United States, comprising 102 stories; the skyscraper towers over Manhattan. However, recently the building has been in the headlines because of Netflix's Skywalkers couple, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, who not only climbed the structure but also proposed there.
Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus waved a banner from the top of the Empire State Building after getting engaged. However, as soon as they got down, NYPD was waiting to arrest the couple for their stunt. So, as the couple found themselves in a legal mess, let's take a look at who they are and what happened to them.
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus' Empire State Building proposal
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus are well known among fans as the daredevil couple featured in the Netflix documentary, Skywalkers. However, they have now returned to the headlines for pulling off a climbing stunt at the Empire State Building in Manhattan, New York City on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 (ET). The couple got in trouble after their surprise, unannounced climb took place on a hot New York City afternoon. Their sudden climb left bystanders and pedestrians confused, and the NYPD was soon called to the scene.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) was called to the scene immediately, and officers tried to talk to them, without realising what was unfolding. However, once the duo reached the top of the Empire State Building, they unfurled a banner. The banner quoted Jimi Hendrix's views on love and peace. Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus waved the banner and shared a few kisses at the top. The banner could be read as:
"When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."
However, that was not all; once Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus began descending, everyone thought the stunt was over. Nonetheless, after climbing down a few meters, Beerkus found a platform to stand on and got down on his knee, asking Nikolau to marry her. Nikolau said "Yes," and came down wearing the engagement ring. A moment which could have been otherwise romantic turned into an arrest for the lack of permission. ABC7's Eyewitness News reported that around 1 PM EDT, they were taken into custody by NYPD officers just as they landed on the ground.
Who are Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus?
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus are Russian skyscraper climbers. The couple is known for scaling multiple iconic buildings worldwide. Nikolau was born into a family of circus artists and pursued rhythmic gymnastics as a child. However, she soon found her calling as a skyscraper climber. She instantly went viral on social media for her unusual photos from the rooftops of skyscrapers in Moscow. Talking about their first documented climb, she and Beerkus did it in 2016.
The couple scaled China's Goldin Finance 117 in Tianjin, the tallest building in the world under construction. While they have an impeccable climbing record as a couple, Ivan Beerkus has a stellar record of his own. He has climbed the Eiffel Tower, the Shanghai Tower in Shanghai, and Shun Hing Square in Shenzhen, among other buildings. While it's not clear when Angela Nikolau and Beerkus began dating, the couple is among the most well-known extreme-adventure influencers.
While Nikolau Beerkus was featured in the Danish documentary, On the Edge of Freedom and the Slovak documentary, Who is Next, the Netflix documentary featured both him and Angela Nikolau in Skywalkers: A Love Story, documenting their relationship, forged through a shared love for scaling skyscrapers.
What are your thoughts on Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus' engagement and arrest? Let us know.
image credit: AngelaNikolau/IG
Next Read: Meet Danny Glover's Ex-Wives, Asake Bomani And Eliane Cavalleiro, Amid Actor's Alzheimer's Disease
