Couple who scaled Empire State Building appear in New York court
Ivan Kuznetsov and Angelina Nikolau, charged with reckless endangerment and other offenses after climbing the Empire State Building’s antenna, were brought before a New York judge and later kissed outside the courthouse.
Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angelina Nikolau, 33, were arraigned in a New York court on Monday on charges that include reckless endangerment, burglary and criminal mischief. The charges stem from a July 1 incident in which the pair climbed the antenna at the top of the 1,454-foot Empire State Building, unfurled a banner reading “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace,” and a man knelt to propose.
During the brief hearing the couple wore black leather jackets and jeans, stood quietly behind their attorneys and held hands. After the session they embraced and shared a kiss outside the courthouse in front of reporters and onlookers.
Kuznetsov and Nikolau, who have previously been featured in a Netflix documentary about their building-climbing activities, have defended the stunt as a form of art in Instagram posts. They posted that, “Whatever happens in court, we will respect the process and accept the consequences of our choices.”
The pair have not entered a plea, and a further hearing is set for September 29. Access to the Empire State Building’s uppermost points is prohibited, though the observation deck remains open to the public.