Two people climbed to the summit of the Empire State Building in New York on Wednesday afternoon, unfurled a pro-peace banner, and appeared to get engaged at the top of one of the world’s most recognisable skyscrapers in one of the most surreal public stunts the city has seen in years.
The pair, a man and a woman wearing dark outfits and masks, displayed a black flag with white lettering reading “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace” as NBC New York helicopters circled overhead capturing the extraordinary scenes. In a moment that left viewers stunned, the man then dropped to one knee in an apparent marriage proposal. The woman appeared to accept, with the couple embracing and kissing at the top of the nearly 1,500-foot structure as the cameras rolled.
The pair eventually began making their way back down toward street level, where law enforcement officers had assembled behind yellow police tape awaiting their descent. It remained unclear how the two managed to reach the summit of one of New York City’s most heavily visited tourist landmarks without being intercepted.
The incident unfolded at a particularly busy moment for New York City, which is currently hosting an influx of visitors for World Cup matches and the upcoming July Fourth holiday weekend. The city is also bracing for the reported possibility of a wedding between pop star Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden, adding further to the circus atmosphere gripping Manhattan this week.
