Netflix stars Ivan Kuznetsov and Angelina Nikolau appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday over their July 1 climb of the Empire State Building. (Photo: @angela_nikolau and @beerkus)Netflix stars Ivan Kuznetsov and Angelina Nikolau appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday over their July 1 climb of the Empire State Building, which culminated in what appeared to be a marriage proposal high above New York City.Kuznetsov, 32, and Nikolau, 33, face charges including burglary, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. They have not entered a plea and remain free under court supervision while the case proceeds.Wearing black leather jackets and jeans, Kuznetsov and Nikolau held hands as they stood with their legal team during the brief hearing. After leaving the courthouse, they were surrounded by reporters and photographers and kissed for about 10 seconds, Agence France-Presse reported.After the hearing, the couple posted: “Everything can be taken, except this.”Couple displayed banner during climbAuthorities said Kuznetsov and Nikolau climbed onto the antenna of the 1,454-foot (443-metre) Empire State Building on July 1. Dressed in black and with their faces covered, they displayed a banner carrying the message: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”During the climb, Kuznetsov knelt before Nikolau in what appeared to be a marriage proposal. They embraced and kissed afterwards as news helicopters hovered nearby.Prosecutors allege the pair gained access to restricted parts of the skyscraper after a security-door lock was broken and made their way to its broadcast antenna.Police arrested them after the climb. No injuries were reported, according to police.NYPD body-camera footage showed police climbing through the building before reaching the masked pair, who did not appear to be wearing safety harnesses, Fox News reported.Pair defend climb as ‘art’Their high-rise exploits were the subject of Netflix’s Skywalkers: A Love Story, which followed Kuznetsov and Nikolau as they climbed Merdeka 118 in Malaysia, the world’s second-tallest building. The couple also have a large online following for their climbs.Ahead of Monday’s court appearance, the couple defended the Empire State Building climb as “art” in Instagram posts.“Whatever happens in court, we will respect the process and accept the consequences of our choices,” the couple wrote.The Empire State Building has a public observation deck, but areas higher up the skyscraper are off-limits. The couple are due back in court on September 29.