A viral Knicks championship celebration has now cost one JPMorgan Chase executive her job after video appeared to show a woman dumping trash onto a Manhattan sidewalk before walking away with a public trash can.
Angie Báez, 40, was identified by the New York Post as the woman seen during the New York Knicks’ June 18 ticker-tape parade, which traveled through Manhattan’s famed “Canyon of Heroes” after the team won its first NBA title in 53 years. The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games, closing the series with a 94-90 Game 5 win.
In the now-viral clip, a woman wearing Knicks gear is seen emptying a blue-and-orange Knicks-themed public litter basket onto the street before taking the bin. According to the Post, Báez was later spotted riding the subway with the trash can. The outlet reported that the special-edition bins were tied to the city’s celebration of the Knicks’ championship run.
The incident quickly drew backlash online, especially after Báez’s corporate background surfaced. Her LinkedIn profile reportedly listed her as “Executive Director of Community and Industry Engagement for Card and Connected Commerce at JPMorgan Chase.” She had also previously served as “Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” at The Infatuation, the restaurant and lifestyle review platform JPMorgan Chase acquired in 2021.
JPMorgan Chase confirmed Báez is no longer employed by the company, telling the Post, “This employee is no longer with the company.”
The Post also reported that Báez’s bio on The Infatuation’s website was removed after the controversy. The bio previously stated that her “efforts have helped position [The Infatuation] as a trailblazer in the pursuit of a more equitable and relatable food media industry.” It also described her as “a vibrant mosaic of Dominican heritage, Bronx roots, and a passion for storytelling, creativity, and culture,” adding that she “continues to lead the way towards a more inclusive and equitable future for food media.”
The New York City Department of Sanitation says public litter baskets are meant for pedestrians to dispose of light trash, and misuse can carry fines. Officials also condemned the parade incident, calling the behavior illegal and antisocial.
No charges have been reported, and the NYPD reportedly said it had not received a formal complaint. Still, the fallout shows how quickly a viral public moment can turn into a career-ending controversy, especially when the person involved holds a high-profile corporate role tied to community engagement.
