The climbers, known for scaling the tallest structures on the planet, reached a height of 443 meters, positioning themselves well above the areas accessible to the public of the iconic 102-story building.
Dressed entirely in black with their faces covered, the couple unfurled a banner at the top with a message promoting love and peace. The motto used was: "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace", a phrase attributed to both Jimi Hendrix and politician William Gladstone. With this act, the young individuals sought to publicly express their opposition to war from one of the most emblematic monuments in the United States.
Following the protest, the news helicopters captured an unexpected personal moment: on a platform near the top, the man appeared to propose marriage to his partner. The images showed the couple kissing and embracing, while the woman took several selfies examining what seemed to be an engagement ring on her left hand. Subsequently, Nikolau herself posted photos of the ring on her social media to confirm the news to her thousands of followers.
The police intervention occurred shortly after one o'clock in the afternoon, at which point both were arrested. Fortunately, authorities stated that no one was injured during the ascent or the arrest, despite the danger of the maneuver. While other public figures like actor Jared Leto have climbed parts of the building with prior authorization in the past, these types of ascents are usually done clandestinely. Nikolau and Beerkus, who met in 2016 while climbing a skyscraper in China, have turned their professional passion for heights into a romantic relationship that has now reached its peak in the Big Apple.