Two Arrested After Climbing Empire State Building Antenna for Marriage Proposal

Two individuals climbed the antenna of the Empire State Building on Wednesday and unfurled a banner reading "when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace," apparently as part of a daring marriage proposal, which soon ended with their arrest.

News helicopter footage showed the pair, dressed in black and wearing masks but no safety tethers, balancing on a narrow ledge and kissing. Later, after collecting the banner, one person knelt down and set up what appeared to be photography equipment, while the other took selfies with an outstretched left hand, seemingly examining a ring.

Police Emergency Services Unit officers ascended a ladder to intercept them. Body camera video captured an officer saying, "Well, you can't be up here," to which an off-camera voice replied, "We are engaged." The couple then calmly climbed down and were taken into custody shortly after 1 p.m. Their names were not immediately released, and no injuries were reported.

Onlookers gathered near the building. Jonathan Roman, a tourist from Glasgow, Scotland, called the scene "crazy — it's like being in the movies." He and his son had tickets for an observation platform but found the building blocked off. Roman noted the spectacle was "probably more exciting than going up to the viewing platform for the second time."

Jessica Kaplan, an office worker in the building, expressed disbelief that the pair bypassed security. It remains unclear how they gained access to the antenna, which rises above public areas of the 102-story tower. Building management said the incident was unauthorized and posed no danger, but declined to answer questions about their interactions with security.

Previous daredevils have climbed the antenna, mostly without authorization. In 2023, actor Jared Leto was permitted to climb to the base of the antenna from the 86th floor to promote a tour.