Summary
- Angela and Ivan continue their thrill-seeking adventures, capturing high-altitude images for social media despite legal and ethical challenges.
- The pair faced backlash for their risky climbs, particularly the Merdeka climb in Malaysia.
- Angela and Ivan, now residing in Bangkok, plan a move to New York City while continuing their daredevil climbs and exploring side careers.
As someone who has had the privilege of following Angela and Ivan’s extraordinary journey through the documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” I can’t help but be in awe of their unyielding spirit and determination. Their lives have taken an unexpected turn, one that involves breaking rules, defying gravity, and capturing breathtaking views from the peaks of iconic structures.
Individuals with a fear of heights might want to avert their eyes. In Netflix’s recent documentary, “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” the risky and unlawful practice of rooftopping was shown. This involves climbing the world’s tallest structures, including skyscrapers. The film focused on two popular climbers on social media, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus from Russia. They initially crossed paths in the mid-2010s as solo adventurers but later formed a team. Together, they ascended various towering buildings and construction sites without safety equipment to capture the perfect Instagram photos. Their exploits reached their peak when they chose to climb the Merdeka 118 building in Malaysia, which is the second tallest building globally.
Despite encountering some challenges, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus reached Merdeka’s peak, which stood 2,200 feet above the ground in December 2022. They planned their climb strategically during the World Cup final to keep the crowd and security preoccupied. However, since then, there has been speculation about whether this was Angela and Ivan’s last major climb. Have they retired from mountaineering? Furthermore, what are the consequences of their numerous trespassing infringements? Let us examine where Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus stand today.
Angela and Ivan’s Backstory Before Skywalkers: A Love Story
Angela and Ivan independently discovered a passion for daring mountain ascents, each garnering attention online. Eventually, Ivan contacted Angela, leading to a meeting where they explored the possibility of teaming up. Their story continues with them scaling towering scaffolds from great heights, experiencing challenges and difficulties along the way, but always persevering and continuing their exhilarating journey together.
Climbing Merdeka 118 was their most complex endeavor, involving navigating through two adjacent structures attached to the tower. Upon reaching the summit, they were nearly caught by construction workers and spent a whole day concealed in a hidden nook on the highest floor. Determined, they eventually made it to the pinnacle of the spire. At the top, Ivan hoisted Angela above a precipice that was almost a mile long in their quest for striking social media material. Your social media posts may be impressive, but this takes adventure to another level.
The final significant incident depicted in the documentary was Ivan and Angela’s climb to Merdeka Peak. Their subsequent journey was only hinted at. We watched as they explored various parts of the world together, but no further mountaineering feats were displayed. Was their adventure truly over?
The Post-Climb Legal and Ethical Issues
After leaving Malaysia, Angela and Ivan posted photos of Merdeka online. However, these images sparked an investigation by Malaysian authorities once they gained widespread attention. The organization responsible for Merdeka emphasized safety as their main concern, as the structure was still undergoing construction at the time of the climb. Anyone discovered trespassing on private property would face legal consequences. Accordingly, the deputy police chief of Kuala Lumpur announced that Angela and Ivan would be summoned for interrogation.
Despite having millions of fans, the pair wasn’t exempt from online criticism. Critics on the internet swiftly dismissed their pictures as fraudulent due to the intricacies involved in climbing such a height. The couple responded by sharing more videos and images of them at the tower’s peak. Angela gave a detailed account of their climb in a long Twitter post.
Critics accused them of disrupting an ongoing construction site, but Angela assured that they always avoid interfering with site components during their investigations. However, Angela’s decision to conceal her face using a hijab sparked controversy, with critics claiming it showed disregard for Muslim sensitivities. Amid increasing opposition, Angela apologized publicly for the Merdeka climb incident in January 2023.
Where Are Ivan and Angela Today?
Currently, Angela and Ivan are basking in the new recognition they’ve gained following the Merdeka climb and the documentary’s release. Regarding their legal matters, no fresh developments have emerged in the Malaysian police investigation that started last year. The duo now calls Bangkok, Thailand, home after leaving Russia at the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Despite this, they continue to climb buildings (albeit not as daringly as Merdeka), but the planning process has become more complex due to their newfound fame. Additionally, Angela has embarked on a career as an artist, and Ivan as a musician, with both selling NFTs of their high-altitude photographs.
Starting July 2024, Angela and Ivan have plans to relocate from Bangkok to New York City imminently. Due to their growing recognition, they’ve chosen to keep their climbing schedule under wraps. Contrary to some speculations, they are not considering retiring following the Merdeka incident. In an interview with Variety, Angela shared, “We don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Perhaps when we’re 75.” Their commitment to their passion is remarkable – escaping international authorities and scaling buildings at heights of 2,200 feet isn’t for the weak-hearted. Skywalkers: A Love Story is currently available on Netflix.
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2024-07-24 23:01