Alex Honnold’s Death-Defying Climb: Netflix’s Boldest Live Event Yet

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I just watched Netflix’s live event, and wow! It was incredible watching Alex Honnold free climb the Taipei 101 tower – completely without ropes or anything! It was called Skyscraper Live, and even though the way Netflix showed it wasn’t perfect, it was still amazing television and I definitely recommend checking it out.

Alex Honnold is famous for his incredible, fearless climbs of natural rock formations like El Capitan in Yosemite. However, climbing a skyscraper live on television presented a completely new challenge. While Netflix’s NFL game on Christmas Day drew a lot of viewers, this extreme sports event was a far more daring broadcast.

I’m a big fan of Netflix’s reality shows – the ones you can just lose yourself in, usually about dating, relationships, or people pushing their limits. But honestly, this recent live event was something else entirely. It wasn’t just entertainment; it was genuinely inspiring to watch these athletes display so much bravery and incredible physical ability. It makes Jake Paul’s boxing matches seem pretty dull in comparison, to be honest.

Skyscraper Live Was Netflix’s Boldest Live Event

Alex Honnold’s incredible climb of Taipei 101 was exactly the kind of thrilling event Netflix was hoping for. The challenge was unbelievably difficult – almost beyond what anyone could picture – and it was amazing to watch. Adding to the excitement, Honnold faced real danger, which made the climb even more captivating.

The most remarkable aspect of Skyscraper Live was that it could be shown live, as a two-hour broadcast that kept viewers captivated. People could truly feel the enormity of what Honnold was attempting and how much danger he faced while watching. However, if Honnold had made a mistake and fallen, Netflix’s ambitious live stream would have ended in tragedy.

How Netflix Prepared For The Worst In Skyscraper Live

Despite the risks, Netflix had to plan for the possibility of Alex Honnold falling during his climb. The danger was a major part of what made the documentary so compelling. According to Jeff Gaspin, Netflix’s Vice-President for Unscripted Series, the livestream actually had a 10-second delay as a safety precaution (as reported by Variety).

If Alex Honnold had fallen during the live climb, the broadcast would have immediately cut away to protect viewers. However, the issue with Netflix’s Skyscraper Live wasn’t the climb itself, but rather the segments featuring the presenters – those were the parts that didn’t work well.

What Alex Honnold Is Doing Next

MARK LEE/NETFLIX © 2026

Now that Alex Honnold has earned a substantial amount of money – a six-figure sum – for his Skyscraper Live climb, he has some time before tackling his next incredible challenge. However, he’ll probably need to attempt something even more ambitious to surpass this recent accomplishment. He mentioned in an interview with Ebaster last October that climbing the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, was a possibility.

Even for Alex Honnold, climbing this 2,700-foot skyscraper might be too risky and challenging. While fans await his next adventure – which could be streamed live on Netflix – Honnold will keep sharing his stories on his podcast, Planet Visionaries, the best source for updates directly from him.

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2026-01-27 17:38