Empire State Climbers Own up to Stunt, Express Regret and Face Consequences
WHO:
Fox News - Angelina Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, are the couple charged in connection with the Empire State Building climb.
ABC News - Nikolau and Kuznetsov are Russian nationals in the United States on talent visas.
ABC News - Nikolau’s father, Dmitry Nikolau, told ABC News that the couple were already married and described the stunt as a “performance.”
Fox News - The couple’s lawyer confirmed they were negotiating a potential plea deal with the district attorney.
ABC News - Their attorney advised them not to answer whether they were already married and to discuss their future instead.
WHAT:
Fox News - Nikolau and Kuznetsov laughed when discussing how they bought tickets to enter the building and slept inside overnight.
Fox News - The couple said they felt they should apologize to the NYPD officers and emergency personnel who were sent to the top of the building to help them down.
Fox News - Nikolau and Kuznetsov illegally climbed the Empire State Building, displayed a black flag, and Kuznetsov proposed to Nikolau at the top.
ABC News - The couple free-climbed the building’s broadcast antenna, unfurled a black banner reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace,” and livestreamed the event.
ABC News - They face multiple felony charges in Manhattan Criminal Court, including burglary and reckless endangerment.
Fox News - Kuznetsov said they were “ready to take responsibility” for what they did.
ABC News - Kuznetsov said he and Nikolau should apologize to “only two policemen” who tried to catch them; he described the officers as kind and professional.
Fox News - The couple said they recognized the stunt’s danger and that there were other ways to express themselves; they said they were willing to die for what they called “art.”
ABC News - Kuznetsov warned others not to repeat the climb, calling it “deadly dangerous.”
WHERE:
Fox News - The climb took place at the Empire State Building in New York City.
ABC News - The pair climbed the building’s broadcast antenna and reached the top of the Manhattan landmark.
WHEN:
ABC News - The climb occurred on July 1, 2026.
ABC News - The couple’s interview aired on “Good Morning America”; the article identifies the interview as taking place four months after the climb.
Fox News - The couple were due to appear in court on Thursday.
WHY:
ABC News - Kuznetsov said they had been doing climbing stunts for 15 years.
ABC News - Kuznetsov said they wanted to show their message about love to the world; he said, “We think about how to show this message to the world. That’s it.”
ABC News - Nikolau called the climb a performance and said artists’ work is real when it happens in a real moment without fakery.
HOW:
ABC News - Sources said the couple bought tickets the day before the climb and secretly spent the night inside the building.
ABC News - A security camera reportedly recorded them passing through a hatch on the 102nd floor the next morning.
ABC News - A criminal complaint alleged that a lock on the security door to the 104th floor, which provides access to the antenna, was broken.
ABC News - Sources said the couple appeared to use tools to loosen brackets and access a stairwell.
Fox News - The stunt was captured on camera.
(UPDATED November 12, 2026 01:16 UTC)
Two Russian climbers face felony charges after scaling the Empire State Building antenna and livestreaming their stunt. Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov say they accept responsibility and should apologize to responding officers. Their lawyer says they’re negotiating a potential plea deal.
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(UPDATED November 11, 2026 19:04 UTC)
Russian climbers Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov face felony charges after scaling the Empire State Building’s antenna. They unfurled a black banner, livestreamed the dangerous climb, and Kuznetsov proposed at the summit. Their lawyer says they’re negotiating a potential plea deal.