After Hanging Protest Banner About the Power of Love, Man Proposes Marriage to Woman on Top of Empire State Building

In a breathtaking and highly unusual stunt high above Manhattan, two masked individuals scaled the transmission tower at the pinnacle of the Empire State Building on July 1, 2026, unfurled a large banner promoting world peace, and turned the moment into a dramatic marriage proposal.

Around noon on Wednesday, the man and woman—both wearing masks and dark clothing—climbed the spire of the iconic skyscraper, reaching approximately 1,454 feet. They unfurled a banner that read: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” Footage captured them on the narrow structure as the banner fluttered in the wind against the New York City skyline.

It remains unclear exactly how the pair gained access to the restricted transmission tower area. They appeared to pause at the summit, with reports suggesting they may have been posting to social media while there. One climber briefly began descending before returning to the top.

The Sky-High Proposal

As they began their descent around 12:35 p.m., reaching a lower platform on the spire, the man dropped to one knee. He proposed to the woman in a moment captured on video from below. The pair embraced; she removed her mask, and they shared a kiss. The street level below was cordoned off by NYPD as the dramatic scene unfolded.

NYPD helicopters responded to the scene, and officers began ascending the structure to assist. The two climbers were eventually brought down safely and taken into custody. Potential charges include trespassing and reckless endangerment. Experts noted the extreme dangers involved: the climb is strenuous (especially in summer heat), the tower carries significant radio frequency (RF) and electrical energy, and no safety harnesses were visibly apparent in footage. Such climbs are normally only performed by highly trained professionals.

The incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread discussion about the audacity of the act and the couple’s apparent romantic twist on what began as a peace-themed protest banner.

Has Anyone Done Something Similar Before?

This appears to be the first time someone has combined a banner display with a marriage proposal on the Empire State Building’s spire. However, the spire has seen other daring climbs in recent years.

In November 2023, actor and musician **Jared Leto** became the first person to *legally* scale the outside of the Empire State Building. Starting from the 86th-floor observatory, he climbed (using ropes and harnesses) to the area near the 104th floor/spire in roughly 20 minutes while wearing a high-visibility red jumpsuit. The climb was a promotional stunt for his band Thirty Seconds to Mars’ world tour; he even performed a song at the top with his brother Shannon. Leto later participated in a charity rappel down the building in 2024.

There have also been unauthorized climbs of the Empire State Building spire by urban explorers and photographers in the past, including at least one documented case in 2024 that later led to an arrest based on photographic evidence. Other New York skyscrapers have seen similar “climbing” incidents over the years (e.g., the Trump Tower climber in 2016 and various attempts on One World Trade Center), often resulting in arrests for trespassing and reckless endangerment.

The Empire State Building’s spire itself has a unique history: it was originally designed in the early 1930s as a mooring mast for airships (dirigibles), though the concept proved impractical due to strong winds and was never used for regular passenger service.

### The History of the Slogan

The banner’s message is a slight variation of a well-known peace quote. The most common version—“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace”—is frequently (and often incorrectly) attributed to rock legend **Jimi Hendrix**.

The phrase actually traces back much further. British Prime Minister **William Ewart Gladstone** (1809–1898) expressed a very similar sentiment in the 19th century: “We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.”

The version popularized in the 1960s–70s counterculture and peace movement became strongly associated with Hendrix, even though he is not verifiably documented as having said those exact words. The banner’s wording (“beats the love of power” and “the world knows peace”) is a close modern adaptation that blends the Gladstone sentiment with the Hendrix-attributed phrasing.

### A Bold Mix of Activism and Romance

What began as what many are calling a protest or peace statement on one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks ended with a very personal romantic gesture. The combination of high-risk climbing, a message of love over power, and a marriage proposal has captured public imagination while also highlighting ongoing concerns about security at iconic tall buildings.

As of the latest reports on July 1, 2026, the identities of the climbers have not been publicly released, and the story continues to develop. Whether they face significant legal consequences or become internet folklore for their unforgettable (and undeniably photogenic) moment atop the Empire State Building remains to be seen.

The event serves as a striking reminder that even in an era of advanced security, human determination—and the power of love—can still find dramatic ways to make a statement.