Daredevil Nik Wallenda made history on Tuesday when he walked across a wire over an active volcano in Nicaragua.
The 41-year-old entertainer -- who is also a seventh generation circus performer from the famed Flying Wallenda circus family -- braved the Masaya Volcano as part of the live two-hour ABC special, Volcano Live!, hosted by Bachelor Nation's Chris Harrison.
Recommended Videos
While Nik's perilous tightrope walk was the headline event at the highly hyped stunt, his wife Erendira Wallenda also joined in on the festivities. Before Nik's long walk, she performed an amazing aerialist act on a hoop, dangling above the fiery depths.
When it came time for his big performance, Nik hit the tightrope with a long balance pole (as well as a full safety harness), and completed the seemingly death-defying stunt in just over 31 minutes.
Due to the toxic nature of the vog -- the fumes emanating from the volcano itself -- Nik and Erendira both had to wear gas masks to protect themselves. High winds also played a factor in the danger, and Nik took occasional stops on the wire to steady himself against it.
While viewers had mixed reactions about the two-hour special, there were a lot of fans who took to Twitter to share how impressive and inspirational both Nik and Erendira were for accomplishing their dreams.
#Nicaragua | Amazing show from #MasayaVolcano.
— Mijamart88 (@mijamart88) March 5, 2020
You can not miss this exciting act of this couple.
Waiting for @NikWallenda#PLOMO19#nikwallenda pic.twitter.com/8huEXy8f1J
Me ten minutes ago:
— J.D. Sanderson - A sci-fi writer (@ascifiwriter) March 5, 2020
"I'm not watching #nikwallenda walk over a volcano. That's so stupid. "
Me now: pic.twitter.com/amajdc5IhK
First time I’ve watched Nik Walenda do a walk live...super cool and inspiring! Awesome! Congratulations!!! @NikWallenda #VolcanoLive pic.twitter.com/uWgKXTCsx1
— Nicki 😍 🦄 🌻 (@nickiwithack33) March 5, 2020
Nik Wallenda 🌋 incredible Walk over a Volcano #nikwallenda pic.twitter.com/oG09vnGsta
— maldollaz (@maldollaz) March 5, 2020
He did it!!
— Ruben Mejia (@mejiaruben618) March 5, 2020
Congratulations @NikWallenda 👊👊💪💪 #VolcanoLivewithNikWallenda #VolcanoLive pic.twitter.com/20DdhqZ1sr
I just witnessed the most mindblowing, miraculous, yet inspiring feat ever performed by the great @NikWallenda 🙌 #VolcanoLivewithNikWallenda pic.twitter.com/pjtZ8fDid8
— Rapha Conrad (@raphaconrad) March 5, 2020
Damn girl your teeth are strong asf 😭😂 #VolcanoLivewithNikWallenda #nikwallenda pic.twitter.com/glIKqoBNMo
— Lily🏀🇨🇦 (@Lakersfangurl) March 5, 2020
However, not everyone was so impressed with the daredevil's feat.
Many critics felt lied to because of Nik's use of a safety harness, and argued that the stakes weren't high enough because his life wasn't in actual danger (unless the safety harnesses malfunction, which is entirely possible).
Why is there a safety cable? Not really a death defying feat if you can only fall a few ft
— JackMtnGang (@JackMtnGang) March 5, 2020
Wait, so #nikwallenda has a safety harness connected to another wire? C'mon on man, I thought this was supposed to be risky and suspenseful
— Jeremy Cabler (@JeremyCabler) March 5, 2020
I cant do what Nik Wallenda is doing nor would I want to ...but you live this volcano walk up and YOUR HARNESSED? #VolcanoLive pic.twitter.com/jDYv9jHWwi
— Megan🍀 (@MeganFeller) March 5, 2020
No one:
— Corey Blaine (@corey_blaine) March 5, 2020
Literally not one person:
Nik Wallenda: fine, I’ll walk across a volcano#nikwallenda #VolcanoLive
Not to downplay what Nik Wallenda is doing but, I braved Whole Foods in Manhattan around 5:30 when it was mobbed, THEN managed to make it all the way home on the subway without touching anything...
— Cyrus McQueen (@CyrusMMcQueen) March 5, 2020
Without a wire would be TV worthy. This is a joke
— JackMtnGang (@JackMtnGang) March 5, 2020
Seeing Nik Wallenda do his “death defying walk” while attached to a safety line really makes me miss Evil Knievel. #VolcanoLive
— Kelly Sr (@ChopnWoodUGA) March 5, 2020
With a harness of ya fall isn’t death defying smh 🤦♂️ would of been more exciting with no harness
— BARRINGER (@SUPERBARRINGER) March 5, 2020
That being said, one particular moment that a lot of viewers seemed to appreciate was when Nik began giving himself a big pep talk as he neared the end of his walk.
🌋 | @NikWallenda singing raise a hallelujah while walking over this volcano is the greatest thing ive seen.#VolcanoLivewithNikWallenda pic.twitter.com/knr1660Osq
— Pablo Antonio 👨🏻💻 (@Palh86) March 5, 2020
Watching Nik Wallenda pep talk me on not having fear, & going after my dreams while he’s walking over an active volcano #VolcanoLive #VolcanoLivewithNikWallenda pic.twitter.com/FsLK7JG8o6
— Katia (@katiapiza) March 5, 2020
This volcano walk is the latest in a long line of impressive feats for the man who has earned the name The King of the High Wire. In 2013, he walked across the Grand Canyon Gorge, and he's also walked across Niagara Falls as well Times Square in New York City and on a wire suspended between two skyscrapers in Chicago.
RELATED CONTENT: