Alex Honnold will ascend Taipei 101, the 1,667-foot skyscraper in Taiwan’s capital|Bengt Oberger|CC BY-SA 4.0
American rock climber Alex Honnold, known for his famous ropeless climb of Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan in the documentary Free Solo, is attempting another historic climb, this time live on Netflix.
Honnold will scale Taipei 101, the 1,667-foot skyscraper in Taiwan’s capital, aiming to become the first person to climb the building without protective equipment.
The announcement has sparked debate over the ethics of broadcasting such a dangerous endeavor. Critics express concern regarding the potential for viewers to witness a fatal accident and the influence the stunt might have on young climbers.
Though Netflix will air the event live at 8 p.m. ET today, safety measures include a 10-second broadcast delay, strict weather protocols, and strategically placed early-exit points.
For Honnold, it is a feat he has been dreaming of for a decade. He would set the record for the highest ever urban free solo climb.