Empire State Building climbers kiss outside court after viral proposal
NEW YORK, United States — A couple who climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and got engaged appeared in a New York court Monday, before giving each other a lingering kiss in full view of the world's media.
Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angelina Nikolau, 33, face several charges after their viral stunt on July 1 when they clambered up an antenna at the peak of the 1,454-foot landmark.
During the climb, the pair, clad in black outfits with their faces covered, unfurled a banner that read: "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."
On the top of the building, Kuznetsov went down on one knee and appeared to propose to Nikolau, before they kissed and embraced as news helicopters swirled around them.
At Monday's brief hearing, the pair each wore black leather jackets with jeans and stood quietly holding hands behind their lawyers.
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Outside the courthouse, they embraced one another with a deep, 10-second kiss in front of a pack of journalists and onlookers.
The couple have built a huge online following for their illegal climbing exploits and starred in the Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story," which showed them scaling Malaysia's Merdeka 118 — the world's second tallest building.
Facing US charges including reckless endangerment, burglary and criminal mischief, they have defended their latest climb as "art" in a series of Instagram posts.
"Whatever happens in court, we will respect the process and accept the consequences of our choices," the pair, who have not entered a plea, wrote online. A further hearing was scheduled for September 29.
The Empire State Building has an observation deck open to the public that offers stunning views of New York, but access to higher points is forbidden.
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