Photo Credit: @angela_nikolau (Instagram)
A pair of daredevils who climbed the Empire State Building to get engaged planted a giant flag atop the building with a quote incorrectly attributed to Jimi Hendrix.
A couple dressed in black were arrested after they climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner before getting engaged. The couple was identified as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, stars of Netflix’s 2024 documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.
The pair, known for climbing skyscrapers without harnesses or ropes, drew both helicopters and 911 calls after they were spotted nearly 1,500 feet above the ground, holding onto the antenna at the top of the building.
They were still atop the building when they waved a giant flag that read, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” The couple then got engaged and posted photos to Instagram.
The quote is frequently attributed to iconic guitarist Jimi Hendrix—and he did utter the quote once during an interview, which led to it sticking to him. However, the quote initially belonged to the 19th-century British politician William Gladstone.
Regardless, neither the Hendrix estate nor label partners, including Sony or Universal, have complained—and it seems unlikely that they will. If anything, the stunt will bring a lot of positive attention to Jimi Hendrix’s legacy.
While Beerkus and Nikolau were only atop the building for about half an hour, they were taken into police custody once they climbed down, due to the illegality of the stunt. Interestingly, the Empire State Building’s rules prohibit wearing masks and costumes, which could contribute to the charges the couple will face, as they were wearing masks to cover their faces during their climb.
It’s unclear how Nikolau and Beerkus were able to scale the massive building, but the Netflix special documented their climb of Malaysia’s 2,227-foot-tall Merdeka Tower—the second-tallest building in the world. That stunt required months of training and preparation, and they spent roughly 30 hours inside the building beforehand, camping out and hiding from construction workers. Afterward, the couple escaped Malaysia before facing any legal repercussions.