Jared Leto climbs the Empire State Building to announce band's world tour: 'I made it. I’m alive'
Jared Leto is just as adventurous in life as he is in fashion, as he recently climbed to the top of the Empire State Building to announce his band's world tour.
In a video posted in the official X account of the Empire State Building, Leto was seen decked in a red jumpsuit as he scaled one of the tallest skyscrapers in New York City.
"In 1933, King Kong climbed the Empire State Building. In 2023, Jared Leto took his place," the post's caption read.
The 51-year-old singer-actor did the stunt to let the world know of the launch of Thirty Seconds to Mars' "2024 Seasons" world tour in support of the band's latest record It’s The End Of The World But It’s A Beautiful Day.
In 1933, King Kong climbed the Empire State Building.
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) November 9, 2023
In 2023, @JaredLeto took his place. pic.twitter.com/W0CTuZ6rQL
In a statement posted on his Facebook account, Leto talked about what pushed him to accomplish the death-defying deed.
"I've had a fascination with the Empire State Building, the 'world’s number one attraction,' since I was a kid. Not sure if it was Guinness World Records, King Kong, but something about this iconic structure always captured my imagination," Leto wrote, highlighting that the building has "always been a powerful symbol" to him.
"As many of you also know, I love to climb. It’s one of the few things I’ve found that takes me away from some of the pressures of life and helps me to find a bit of freedom and equanimity," he added.
Leto, who provides lead vocals for his rock band, went on to relate his monumental climb to their new album.
"In a lot of ways, this album is about following your dreams and pushing yourself to do the seemingly impossible. Climbing the Empire State Building certainly falls into that category for me. As does touring the world with my brother and sharing these unforgettable concerts and experiences with you all," he wrote.
Speaking more about the stunt in an interview with TODAY, the actor and musician shared that he had an amusing encounter with his mom while climbing the building.
"I made it. I’m alive. I made it to the top, and I was just saying, I saw my mother in the window of the 80th floor, that was a nice surprise," Leto said. "My mom came to visit."
On what it was like to reach the top, Leto said that the experience was "challenging" yet "incredible," especially when he saw the sunrise overlooking the city.
"I was more excited than nervous, to tell you the truth. But I have to be honest, it was very, very hard. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Just the endurance that it took, the stamina that it took," Leto said.
Thirty Seconds to Mars' tour will kick off on March 15 at Lollapalooza in Buenos Aires and will end on Sept. 19 in Auckland, New Zealand.