Believe it or not: The cat climbs, the copycats try and fail in Taipei

After American climber Alex Honnold free-soloed Taipei 101 on Netflix (as part of the show Skyscraper Live) – no ropes, no harness, just nerves of steel – the internet did what it does best: tried to copy him. Within days, authorities flagged reports of amateur climbers attempting to scale parts of the iconic skyscraper, prompting concern over safety and copycat behaviour. One man’s jaw-dropping feat, it turns out, nearly became a public-safety headache.

No ropes, big warnings

Honnold’s climb came with clear on-screen warnings urging viewers not to attempt it. He used architectural ledges and decorative features (below) to scale the 1,667-foot tower – a precision stunt meant strictly for professionals.

Copycats meet the first floor

Needless to say, most copycats struggled to even get a hold. While a few managed to shimmy up window frames, no one appeared to make it past the first storey. Netizens were ruthless. “Alex is a professional… what kind of monkey are you again?” jeered one. Another cautioned: “This isn’t something you replicate solo.” Others, ever entrepreneurial, suggested Taipei 101 should charge for harnessed climbs.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”