Published 21.59
NEW YORK. They got engaged on top of the Empire State Building – and got arrested.
After the viral stunt, the pair spent the night in separate cells.
– We haven’t slept, they say to Aftonbladet in New York.
They got engaged 443 meters above the ground.
The following day, the daring influencer couple Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angelina Nikolau, 33, are seen again near the Empire State Building in New York.
They look tired but happy and wear the same black clothes as the day before, when they climbed the aerial of the iconic skyscraper.
They hold documents from the police in their hands.
– Congratulations, congratulations!
– Wow, what a thing!
Seized the ring
The couple is quickly surrounded by New Yorkers who want to fist bump and take selfies. The video of their daring stunt has quickly spread around the world, and despite the climb leading to criminal charges, they are treated like superstars.
The couple says to Aftonbladet that they are not allowed to be interviewed until after the legal process. They still say that they “are super tired” and that they haven’t been able to sleep or shower.
In addition, an important detail is missing: the engagement ring.
– The police confiscated it, Angelina says and lightly waves her hand in the air.
They also say that they have been given a court date in August.
“What the hell are these people doing?”
On Thursday afternoon, Hope McMullen, 25, steps out of a nearby office. She looks shocked when she recognizes the couple, who are heading in to buy snacks.
– It’s you! she says, and takes a picture with them.
Afterwards, Hope tells us that everyone in the office has been talking about the climb.
– To be honest, at first I was actually quite shocked, like: what the hell are these people doing?
– But then, after seeing the message, seeing them come down, what they do and that they have a documentary, I was really impressed. And even when I talked to them now, they were really cute and friendly. And what they do is extremely cool.
Isn’t it dangerous to inspire people to climb buildings like that?
– Of course, you shouldn’t do everything you see yourself. But they are obviously pros at what they do, and the message is truly incredible.
Earlier on Thursday, Ivan and Angelina participated in a short hearing in court. They were then released pending trial.
According to ABC News, they should have spent the night in each cell. The channel also states that the couple is formally charged with causing danger to others, burglary, vandalism and other crimes.
When Kuznetsov, according to the channel, was asked if they were going to get married in New York, he replied:
– I hope so.
At the same time, Angelina’s father, Dmitrij Nikolau, told for ABC that the couple is already married and that it “was a show”.
After leaving court, the pair shared a kiss in front of the cameras.
The courtship came to an abrupt end
As Ivan Kuznetsov and Angelina Nikolau climbed the Empire State Building on Wednesday, they unfurled a black banner with a quote from Jimi Hendrix:
“When the power of love overcomes the desire for power, the world will experience peace.”
On the way down, Ivan got down on one knee and proposed to Angelina. The couple later posted photos from the experience on their social media, including a picture of the engagement ring, with Manhattan far down in the background.
But the courtship came to an abrupt end.
Officers were forced to climb the spire to bring down and arrest the couple. According to the report, the police waited for about half an hour for the antenna to be turned off before officers could start climbing up. They finally stopped the couple on their way down, approximately 381 meters above the ground – something that is described in the report as risky even for the police.
Netflix couple
Court documents also describe that police found a broken lock on a security door on the Empire State Building’s 104th floor, where access is limited and which leads up to the antenna. The highest floor open to the public is the 102nd floor, where the observation deck is located. To get higher, key cards are required, writes Fox News.
Ivan and Angelina are already known for their daring climbs around the world. They were also profiled in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.
In a statement, those responsible for the Empire State Building wrote that the observation deck already offers “a practical way for the most memorable courtships.”
