Those afraid of heights may want to look away.Netflix’s latest documentary,Skywalkers: A Love Story(firstreleased at Sundance), depicted the dangerous (and illegal) lifestyle of those who practice rooftopping, scaling the world’s tallest skyscrapers. The story centered on two of the most notable climbers on social media,Russia’s Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus. The pair first met in the mid-2010s as solo explorers and soon formed a partnership. They scaled several tall buildings and construction sites without safety gear in search of the perfect Instagram pics.Everything culminated in their decision to scale the Merdeka 118 building in Malaysia, the second-tallest building in the world.
Despite some setbacks, Angela and Ivan climbed Merdeka to the top of its spire, 2,200 feet off the ground. They made the ascent in December 2022, cleverly timed to the World Cup final to keep spectators and security occupied. But what have the pair been up to since then? There was some discussion of Merdeka being the pair’s last major climb, so have they really hung it up? And what about the legal ramifications of their many trespassing violations? Let’s look at what we know about where Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus are today.
Angela and Ivan’s Backstory Before Skywalkers: A Love Story
Angela and Ivan developed their love for dangerous climbs separately, with both gaining tractionon social media. Ivan first reached out to Angela, and the two met up to discuss a partnership. The rest is history, as they were soon jumping up scaffolding hundreds of feet in the air together. There were fights and setbacks, but they always rebounded and continued their thrill-seeking adventures.
The Merdeka 118 climb was their most intricate yet, cutting through two other buildings connected to the skyscraper. Once at the top, they were almost discovered by a construction crew and had to spend an entire day hiding out in a small alcove on the top floor. They stuck with it and soon made it to the peak of the spire. Up there, Ivan lifted Angela in the air above a nearly half-mile straight drop, all in the pursuit of social content. And you think your social media pics are impressive.
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The Merdeka ascent was the last major event coveredin the documentary, with Ivan and Angela’s next chapter only briefly touched upon. We saw them continue to travel together all over the world, though there were no more climbs shown. Was this really the end?
The Post-Climb Legal and Ethical Issues
Angela and Ivan shared pictures of Merdeka once they were safely out of Malaysia. However, Malaysian authoritieslaunched an investigationwhen the pictures went viral. The group that owns Merdeka highlighted that safety is their top priority, as the site was still under active construction at the time of the climb.Anyone found to be trespassing on private property would be subject to legal action. The deputy police chief of Kuala Lumpur confirmed that Angela and Ivan would be called in for questioning.
Despite the pair’s millions of fans, they were not immune from online hate. Internet skeptics were quick to denounce the pics as fake due to the sheer amount of planning involved with such an ascent. The duo refuted this, providing additional videos and photos of them exploring the top of the spire. Angela detailed every aspect of the climb in a lengthy Twitter thread.
They were also criticized for disturbing the active construction site, though Angela emphasized that they take care to never disturb any elements of the places they explore. Angela’s use of a hijab to hide her face from security cameras proved controversial, with users highlighting its disrespect to Muslims. In the face of mounting backlash, Angela issueda public apologyfor the Merdeka climb in January 2023.
Where Are Ivan and Angela Today?
Today,Angela and Ivan are enjoying the newfound famefrom both the Merdeka climb andthe documentary release. As for their legal issues, there have been no new updates on the police investigation in Malaysia since it was opened last year. They currently reside in Bangkok, Thailand, after fleeing their native Russia at the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. The pair still climb buildings today (none as extreme as Merdeka), though planning these ascents is more challenging with their increased notoriety. They’ve also explored side careers, with Angela as an artist and Ivan as a musician, andboth selling NFTsof the high-altitude images they’ve captured.
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As of July 2024, Angela and Ivan are planning a move from Bangkok to New York City sometime soon. They keep their upcoming climbing plans quiet as more people recognize them wherever they go. However,anyone who thought they might call it quits altogether after the Merdeka incident is mistaken. In a recent interview withVariety, Angela noted, “We are not anticipating quitting any time soon. Maybe when we are 75.” That’s dedication to the craft, as running from international authorities and sitting on the edge of a building 2,200 feet in the air isn’t for the faint of heart.Skywalkers: A Love Storyis streaming onNetflix.
