The celebration following the Knicks’ long-awaited NBA championship victory was supposed to be a moment of civic pride. After more than five decades without a title, fans poured into the streets to celebrate a championship many believed they would never see in their lifetimes.
Most fans commemorated the occasion with photos, videos, and maybe a team jersey. One woman apparently chose a city-owned trash can.
Video that quickly spread across social media appeared to show a Knicks fan emptying the contents of a blue-and-orange public trash receptacle onto a New York City street before carrying the container away as a keepsake from the parade festivities. Additional footage allegedly showed the same individual transporting the trash can on public transit, further fueling online attention.
As often happens in the social media era, internet detectives got to work. Within days, multiple outlets reported that the woman had been identified as Angie Báez, a corporate executive who had worked for JPMorgan Chase. According to reports, Báez held a leadership position focused on community and industry engagement and had previously worked in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives before moving into her most recent role.
Then the story took another turn. Following widespread attention surrounding the incident, JPMorgan Chase confirmed that Báez was no longer employed by the company.
A company spokesperson told reporters:
“This employee is no longer with the company.”
The bank did not publicly elaborate on the circumstances surrounding her departure.
Twenty years ago, an embarrassing decision made during a crowded public celebration might have become a funny story shared among friends. Today, nearly everyone carries a camera, social media can amplify a clip to millions of viewers within hours, and employers often find themselves dragged into controversies they had nothing to do with. That reality has transformed public accountability in ways few people fully appreciate until they’re the ones trending online. What makes this particular episode so unusual is how avoidable it appears to have been.
No elaborate investigation was required. No hidden surveillance footage had to be uncovered. The incident allegedly unfolded in broad daylight, in front of thousands of people, with countless phones recording every angle.
The New York City Department of Sanitation seemed equally unimpressed. In a statement to reporters, the agency said:
“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. On top of all that, doing both on camera is incredibly stupid.”
That’s about as close as a city agency gets to delivering a public eye-roll. The legal questions may not be over either.
Under New York law, theft of public property can carry criminal penalties depending on the circumstances. While it remains unclear whether any charges will ultimately be pursued, legal observers have noted that both the alleged theft and the dumping of trash could potentially violate local laws.
Angie Báez, a morbidly obese New York Knicks fan and JP Morgan Chase DEI hire, was caught on camera dumping trash from a public bin onto the sidewalk before walking away with the Knicks-colored can during the parade.
The video spread quickly online, and JP Morgan Chase confirmed… pic.twitter.com/apP49lDeRY
— Kim "Katie" USA (@KimKatieUSA) June 24, 2026
