The Couple Who Climbed the Empire State Building Argued Over Photos at the Top
Photos are the lifeblood of influencer couples, so disagreements over getting the perfect shot are hardly unusual. But one couple took that argument to an extraordinary place: 1,400 feet above New York City atop the Empire State Building.
Russian couple Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov hit the headlines last week after scaling the Empire State Building and apparently getting engaged while on top of it. The daredevil duo are both rooftoppers, an extreme form of urban exploring that sees practitioners illegally climb buildings and take breathtaking photos.
Among the photos and videos of them that have since been released, a clip of Nikolau and Kuznetsov bickering over the quality of photos while hanging off the antenna of the Empire State Building is truly memorable and one that all photographers can relate to.
🇷🇺‼️🚨 BEHIND THE SCENES: The Russian skyscraper climbers argue like a normal couple … lol
Kinda funny seeing them argue about photos like most couples do … except it’s on top of a skyscraper. pic.twitter.com/eByDP9wFyT
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) July 3, 2026
In the above video, as the couple reviews the images on the camera, Nikolau says, “I do not see a good photo yet. We did not take the picture perfectly yet.” As Kuznetsov shows her another image, Nikolau scathingly responds, “What is this?”
Kuznetsov warns her not to worry too much about the photos and focus on maintaining her strength as the couple cling to the top of the 1,454 feet (443 meters) tall Empire State Building.
“Why do the work if it’s s***, why?,” asks Nikolau. “Why? Why have we climbed here? For what?” Kuznetsov responds by saying he thinks the photo is great.
The clip has been shared to multiple social media platforms, but the source of the clip is not immediately clear. Nikolau and Kuznetsov are facing criminal charges, including burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, criminal tampering, disorderly conduct, and possession of burglar’s tools.
A pre-scheduled post appeared on Nikolau’s Instagram page noting the couple is “currently unavailable.”
It’s a serious rap sheet that could result in them serving time in prison. The pair previously starred in a Netflix documentary titled Skywalkers: A Love Story.
