Proposal on Empire State Building
On Wednesday at noon, two masked individuals made their way to the roof of the Empire State Building, displaying a banner with the message, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
After the New York City Police Department’s Emergency Services Division arrived at the scene, the duo, identified on social media as Netflix actors Angela Nikolaou and Ivan Bielkas, lowered the banner and climbed down from the antenna to a platform below.
Bielkas then took out an engagement ring from his backpack, knelt down, and proposed to Nikolaou.
Following the proposal, the couple was taken into custody, with pending charges mentioned by an NYPD official. Luckily, there were no reported injuries.
About 40 police officers had gathered outside the building to manage traffic, and the Fifth Avenue entrance between West 33rd and 34th Streets was closed. Many pedestrians gathered on the corners to watch the unfolding situation.
An Empire State Building spokesperson later stated that the incident was “unauthorized” and acknowledged the NYPD’s assistance in handling it. They reassured the public that there was “no danger to tenants, visitors, or guests of the Empire State Building Observation Deck.” Interestingly, the spokesperson highlighted that the observation deck is a more practical venue for memorable marriage proposals.
Although the details about how Nikolaou and Bielkas accessed the building remain unclear, the couple did share a photo of their engagement ring on Instagram, captured from the tower’s summit.
Netflix has not yet provided any comments regarding the incident.
This iconic skyscraper, with its spire and antenna, stands at 1,454 feet tall, ranking as the fourth tallest building in New York City and sixth in the United States.
As of now, New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has not made any public statements regarding this unusual stunt, and his office has yet to respond to requests for comment.
This story is still developing, so it’s advisable to check back for updates.
