Few marriage proposals can rival the breathtaking setting of Ivan Kuznetsov's engagement to Angela Nikolau. Perched atop the 1,454-foot spire of New York City's Empire State Building, the daredevil climber dropped to one knee and presented his longtime partner with a sparkling oval-cut diamond engagement ring. Just hours later, the ring would find itself in an NYPD evidence locker.
The proposal unfolded on July 1 after the couple allegedly bypassed security, hid overnight inside the iconic skyscraper and climbed its antenna (think King Kong) without safety harnesses. Before Kuznetsov asked Nikolau to marry him, the pair unfurled a banner reading, "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace." (The quote is widely attributed to guitarist Jimi Hendrix, but was actually originally spoken by British statesman William Gladstone.)
Photos shared on social media showed the newly engaged climber proudly wearing an elegant oval-cut diamond secured in a classic four-prong setting on a simple white gold band. The timeless design allowed the elongated center stone to take center stage, reflecting one of today's most popular engagement ring styles. Oval diamonds have become a favorite among modern brides because their graceful shape creates the illusion of greater size while offering exceptional brilliance.
Unfortunately for the couple, Nikolau enjoyed her new ring for only a few hours.
After descending from the skyscraper, the pair was arrested by the NYPD and charged with multiple offenses, including burglary, reckless endangerment and criminal trespass. Police confiscated the engagement ring as evidence, leaving the couple to spend their first night as an engaged pair in separate holding cells.
Nikolau and Kuznetsov were released from custody on the morning of Thursday, July 2, following their arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, where they were granted supervised release while the criminal case proceeds. Photographers noticed Nikolau was no longer wearing her engagement ring, and Kuznetsov later confirmed that the jewelry remained in police custody.
The couple is no stranger to gravity-defying adventures. Known internationally as professional "rooftoppers," they have built enormous social media followings by scaling some of the world's tallest skyscrapers without ropes or safety equipment. Their remarkable relationship and high-altitude exploits were chronicled in the July 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.
This latest stunt may rank among the most extreme marriage proposals ever attempted, combining romance, risk and a message of peace — more than a quarter-mile above Manhattan.
Credits: Photos via Instagram / angela_nikolau and beerkus.