Alex Honnold, the climber made famous by the documentary Free Solo, is attempting his first-ever free solo climb of a skyscraper on Friday night in a live Netflix broadcast.
The 40-year-old is climbing Taipei 101, a 1,667-foot tower in Taiwan, without ropes or safety equipment. The event, titled Skyscraper Live, begins streaming at 8 p.m. ET and is Netflix’s first live broadcast centred on a high-risk physical challenge.
The climb has drawn criticism from parts of the climbing community and media commentators, who say the event crosses ethical lines by turning extreme danger into entertainment. Some critics argue the promotion focuses too heavily on the risks involved rather than the athletic achievement.
Several climbers on social media have accused Honnold of abandoning traditional climbing values in favour of spectacle. An opinion piece published by GearJunkie said the broadcast benefits from the possibility of failure, even if no one wants that outcome.
Netflix has said it is using professional risk-management teams and has introduced a short broadcast delay. The company has worked with the same safety consultants on Honnold’s previous projects, though free solo climbing carries inherent risk.
The event has also attracted interest from online prediction markets, where thousands of users have placed bets on whether Honnold will complete the climb and how long it will take. One major platform estimates a high chance of success.
Honnold rose to global fame in 2018 after Free Solo documented his rope-free ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. The film won both an Academy Award and a BAFTA and brought widespread attention to the sport.
This marks the first time Honnold has attempted a free solo climb on a skyscraper and the first time Netflix has streamed such an event live.
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