A woman has faced serious consequences for her foolish act of stealing a Knicks-themed trash can after dumping its contents on a New York City sidewalk during the NBA championship parade, which officials labeled as an “incredibly stupid” move.
On June 18, as New York City celebrated the Knicks’ NBA championship parade, one fan’s behavior drew attention for all the wrong reasons.
Footage circulating on social media captured 40-year-old Angie Báez, clad in Knicks colors, emptying a limited-edition blue-and-orange city trash can onto a Manhattan sidewalk before nonchalantly walking away with it.
Another photo later surfaced showing her on the subway with the stolen bin next to her, making her unusual theft one of the most discussed moments of the parade.
As the video amassed millions of views, the focus quickly shifted from her actions to her identity.
JPMorgan Executive dumped and stole Knicks bin during parade
The New York Post later revealed that the online sensation is a JPMorgan Chase executive, holding the position of executive director of community and industry engagement for card and connected commerce.
As reported by the outlet, she was elevated to her position over a year ago, having established a career centered on community engagement and diversity initiatives.
Prior to her tenure at the banking giant, Báez was the executive director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at The Infatuation, a restaurant review platform that was later acquired by Chase as part of its strategy to expand into lifestyle content.
The publication’s biography characterized her as someone whose “commitment to creating a positive impact is evident in every facet of her work.”
It further noted, “Angie’s contributions have helped establish [the Infatuation] as a leader in the quest for a more equitable and relatable food media landscape,” referring to her as one of the company’s “most prominent voices.”
“Incredibly foolish”
However, the viral stunt quickly led to repercussions beyond social media.
A spokesperson for Chase chose not to comment on the incident involving Báez, but the banking giant did confirm in a brief statement that “this employee is no longer with the company.”
She also had to respond to New York City’s Department of Sanitation.
“First, we want to reiterate our previous statements that dumping trash on the street and taking public property for personal use are both illegal and antisocial actions, which are not representative of New Yorkers,” the department stated in a message shared by NBC News. “Moreover, doing both on camera is incredibly foolish.”
According to People, Báez was fined $75 for littering after she dumped the trash can’s contents onto the sidewalk, in addition to a second $100 fine for obstructing department operations.
‘Happy she was let go’
The aftermath also sparked numerous reactions online following the news of her termination.
“Perhaps she ought to submit an application to the NYC Department of Sanitation? She appears to be quite at ease lounging in the trash. It seems to come naturally to her…” one individual quipped.
Another commented, “Being drunk and foolish isn’t a sustainable way to live. It seems to have served her well until she likely waved goodbye to a job that paid in the high six figures. I guess it was the foolishness that led to that.”
One commenter remarked, “I’m glad she got fired. It really doesn’t take much to buy some spray paint and color a trash can those same shades.”
Home sweet home
Regarding the missing trash can, it eventually made its way back to its rightful place.
The NYC Department of Sanitation later confirmed that the Knicks-themed bin had been returned, sharing the news in a post on X.
“Home sweet home,” the department wrote in the caption, along with a picture of the retrieved trash can. The image also included the message: “Welcome back! We missed you!”
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