A New York Knicks supporter filmed emptying a public trash can onto a Manhattan sidewalk before walking away with the blue-and-orange bin has been dismissed from JP Morgan Chase.
Angie Báez, 40, was no longer working for the banking giant as of Tuesday, after video of the bold parade-day incident spread rapidly across social media.
‘This employee is no longer with the company,’ a Chase spokesperson told the Daily Mail in a statement.
Báez, a former executive, was identified as the woman shown in viral footage dressed in Knicks colors while tipping out a limited-edition trash receptacle — decorated in the team’s signature blue and orange for the championship celebrations — onto the street before carrying it off.
A separate image appeared to capture Báez smiling toward the camera as she brought the bin onto the subway.
The unusual episode took place during the Knicks’ open-top bus parade through Manhattan last Thursday, marking the franchise’s first NBA title in 53 years.
Millions of supporters crowded the Canyon of Heroes and nearby streets to cheer on the team, owner James Dolan and a lineup of celebrity fans.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani was also among the public figures who took part in the celebrations.
But amid the sea of blue and orange, one fan’s apparent attempt to turn a public trash can into a personal souvenir drew instant outrage.
JPMorgan Chase confirmed on Tuesday that Angie Báez, 40, was no longer employed by the bank after the footage showing her dumping trash out onto the sidewalk surfaced
Báez had held the title of Executive Director of Community and Industry Engagement for Card and Connected Commerce, according to her now deleted LinkedIn profile
Báez was fired from her job at JP Morgan Chase this week after she was identified when the bank looked into the incident
Footage showed the woman lifting the receptacle and tipping the entire contents across the sidewalk, leaving piles of rubbish, including spilled drinks, strewn across the concrete as stunned bystanders watched.
She then walked away with the bin and took it onto the subway where she was photographed for a second time.
The incident was condemned by the New York City Department of Sanitation, which branded the behavior illegal, antisocial and ‘incredibly stupid.’
‘Dumping trash onto the street and stealing public property for your own personal use are both illegal, antisocial behaviors, and not what New Yorkers do,’ the department said in a statement. ‘On top of all that, doing both on camera is incredibly stupid.’
Báez had been promoted more than a year ago to Executive Director of Community and Industry Engagement for Card and Connected Commerce at JPMorgan Chase.
Before that, she worked as Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Infatuation, the New York-based restaurant-review website acquired by Chase as part of its expansion into lifestyle and experiential content.
A biography on The Infatuation’s website praises Báez’s work in helping make the food-media industry more equitable and describes her as one of the space’s ‘brightest voices.’
Báez’s antics drew the ire of those on social media who were appalled at her behavior
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Báez was caught on camera walking away with the trash can to keep as a memento
The profile read her ‘dedication to making a positive impact shines through in every aspect of her work,’ while another passage describes her as a ‘vibrant mosaic of Dominican heritage, Bronx roots, and a passion for storytelling, creativity, and culture.’
It adds that she has worked to help make The Infatuation ‘a trailblazer in the pursuit of a more equitable and relatable food media industry.’
Báez also appears to have co-founded Same Page Co., a queer- and Black, Indigenous and People of Color-owned talent agency that says it is focused on improving representation and equity across media and industry.
Earlier in her career, Báez held diversity and inclusion roles at Squarespace, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hudson’s Bay and Saks Off 5th, according to an online biography.
The NYPD said on June 20 that it had not received any complaints related to the incident. Báez has not been charged with a crime.
Under New York law, theft of property worth less than $1,000 can be charged as petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor. Littering can also carry separate penalties.
Viewers of Báez’s antics were far from impressed and hit out at the woman for her ‘lack of respect.’
‘She should be shamed,’ New York fan account, Knicks Muse, posted on X. ‘Making life miserable for a city worker because you liked the colors of a trash can. Loser.’
Another account wrote: ‘No conscious thought about ethics, morality or society. Just ‘I want this’ ogre mentality.’
‘She needs to be fined for littering,’ a third claimed. ‘Stop acting like you don’t have home training.’
‘It should be charged!! Littering and theft,’ agreed a fourth.
‘Lol these the people that give NY a bad look, Shoutout to the sanitation that had to take care of this, you the real champion,’ added another.
The trash-can saga was just one of several chaotic moments to spill out of the Knicks’ parade celebrations.
Millions of fans descended on downtown Manhattan to celebrate the Knicks’ parade
Two Knicks fans were filmed embroiled in a nasty fight during the Knicks championship parade
In another confrontation caught on camera, two women fought over a viewing spot near a streetlight before one was pulled from the sign and thrown to the ground.
The woman quickly got back up and yanked down the other fan’s shorts, triggering shocked reactions from people nearby as the pair continued grappling for position.
Elsewhere, Knicks player Tyler Kolek briefly left the team bus to run along the parade route, high-five supporters and soak up the scenes while carrying a Michelob Ultra.
But the 25-year-old was stopped by officers who apparently did not recognize him. A man wearing a ‘New York or Nowhere’ T-shirt stepped in to explain that Kolek was a member of the championship team.
Kolek was eventually allowed to continue and later mocked the misunderstanding on X, writing: ‘I swear I’m on the team bro.’
