Daring Duo Scale Empire State Building, Unveil Mysterious Banner Leaving City Stunned
Ever wonder what it’s like to casually scale one of the tallest buildings in the world on a random Wednesday afternoon? Well, two daredevils with nerves of steel gave New Yorkers quite the surprise this week, as they bizarrely climbed the Empire State Building — all 1,454 feet of it — and unfurled a gigantic banner carrying a message meant to stir the soul. Picture yourself looking up from the bustling streets of the Big Apple, spotting two masked climbers at the pinnacle, then watching them perform what looked like a rooftop proposal before sharing a smooch. Talk about taking love to new heights! Their stunt might have left many in awe, but it sure left the NYPD with a serious headache, not to mention a laundry list of charges for the duo. So, was it a wild act of romance, a plea for world peace, or just a publicity stunt gone off the rails? Either way, it’s a story that’s hard to overlook. LEARN MORE.
Two people who apparently have stronger stomachs than most bizarrely scaled the Empire State Building this week.
The pair left people in the Big Apple stunned on Wednesday (1 July) after climbing on top of the 1,454ft (443 metres) tall tourist attraction.
What made the stunt even more intriguing is that the two masked individuals then unfurled a huge banner which sported an interesting message.
Imagine looking up from the sidewalk and seeing that on a mid-week afternoon, eh? I suppose it would be quite the sight to behold.
According to reports, the daring duo got up to all sorts while they were gallivanting about on top of the Empire State Building.
The duo appeared to get engaged before sharing an embrace at the top of the Empire State Building (WABC)
After reaching the spire of the notorious structure, the pair were seen descending to a small platform – where they then appeared to act out a proposal.
They then shared a smooch before continuing with their descent.
A massive black banner was then unveiled by the masked pair, which sported vivid white lettering.
It read: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”
This is a quote largely attributed to the late and great musician Jimi Hendrix, although British Prime Minister William Gladstone is also given props for saying it.
Reports claim that the man and woman were on top of the Empire State Building for at least ten minutes.
The New York Police Department later announced that the individuals were subsequently taken into custody, according to the BBC.
It’s since been revealed they are Ivan ‘Vanya’ Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, who appeared in Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which featured the couple climbing other really tall buildings without harnesses or ropes.
And though love may conquer all, a lawyer might also be handy as the duo have been charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, possession of burglar’s tools, criminal tampering, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, an NYPD spokesperson told Time magazine.
Couple behind Empire State Building proposal revealed as daredevils who starred in Netflix documentary
The duo caused quite a commotion in the US city with the stunt, as an NYPD helicopter was seen circling the area, while tourists were ordered to leave the Empire State Building’s observation deck.
Some people seem to believe it was some kind of stunt to spread the message of world peace, while others reckon it could have been a very wacky way to get engaged.
Their antics put officials and the building owners in a seriously ‘tough spot’, according to former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.
The pair were arrested by NYPD officers in wake of the stunt (WABC)
He told CNN: “They are going to have to do whatever they can to see that these people are prosecuted for any appropriate charges, because they cannot take the chance that others will see this and decide to also try it.
“The last thing that people who are responsible for the Empire State Building want is to turn this place into a target for that sort of activity, because ultimately it will end in some sort of tragedy. The danger here, the recklessness, is obvious and can’t be overstated.”
It is not clear how they managed to reach the top of the Empire State Building without being interrupted, but the one thing that we do know is that it’s against New York City law to scale the exterior of the Empire State Building without authorisation.
A spokesperson for the Empire State Building told ABC News that, while they encourage people to pop the question on the famous skyscraper, there are probably less extreme ways of doing it.
They said: “It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck, atop the World’s Most Famous Building in the center of New York City, does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals.”
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