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Empire State Building Climbers Appear in Court over Viral Engagement Stunt

Ivan Kuznetsov and Angelina Nikolau face charges after prosecutors say they entered restricted areas and climbed more than 1,300 feet above Manhattan.

  • Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov appeared in a New York City court on Monday to face charges stemming from their July 1 climb of the Empire State Building's 443-meter antenna.
  • Security cameras captured Nikolau and Kuznetsov moving through a hatch on the 102nd floor around 5 a.m. before breaking a lock on a 104th-floor security door to access the building's broadcasting antenna.
  • Prosecutors allege Nikolau and Kuznetsov climbed more than 1,300 feet above Manhattan, facing charges including reckless endangerment, burglary, and criminal mischief; defense attorney Jason Krinsky argued the case was overcharged.
  • The pair, who have not entered a plea, stood quietly holding hands during the brief hearing before embracing with a lingering kiss outside the courthouse; a further hearing was scheduled for September 29.
  • Defending their actions as "art," the East Orange, New Jersey residents wrote online: "Whatever happens in court, we will respect the process and accept the consequences of our choices.
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27 Articles

TVA NouvellesTVA Nouvelles
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Le Journal de QuebecLe Journal de Quebec
Lean Left

A couple who had climbed the top of the Empire State Building to get involved briefly appeared Monday in a New York court

·Montreal, Canada
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Lean Right

A couple who climbed the top of the Empire State Building and became engaged attended a court in New York on Monday (24) before exchanging a long kiss in front of the press. Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angelina Nikolau, 33, respond to several accusations after the escalation that viralized on July 1, when they went up by an antenna at the top of the emblematic 443-metre building.

·Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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TMZ broke the news in Burbank, United States on Monday, August 24, 2026.
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