A Knicks championship parade, a limited-edition trash can, and a sidewalk full of garbage have now added up to a very real consequence for one New York City finance professional.
A woman filmed emptying the contents of a custom Knicks-themed trash can onto a Manhattan sidewalk, then casually walking off with the bin, is no longer employed at JPMorgan Chase, according to multiple outlets. The clip, which raced across social media, reignited the never-ending debate over what is fair game at a parade and what is just plain bad behavior.
The New York Post identified the woman as 40-year-old Angie Báez and reported she had been listed on LinkedIn as an executive at JPMorgan Chase. In a statement to NBC News, a bank spokesperson said, "This employee is no longer with the company." The original social media post that first spread the video has since been taken down.
Where the Cans Came From
The blue-and-orange corner cans at the center of the controversy were not ordinary street hardware. They were part of a small, hand-painted installation created in partnership with the New York City Department of Sanitation and streetwear brand Only NY, according to Dexerto. That limited project has since morphed into a retail item on Only NY's site, where a "DSNY Home Waste Basket" is now listed for sale.
Sanitation Department Response
The Department of Sanitation did not exactly shrug and move on. Officials called the sidewalk-dumping-and-grab "illegal" and "antisocial" and said the can seen in the viral footage was ultimately returned to the city, as reported by NDTV. The agency's public scolding, combined with clear visuals of trash strewn on the pavement, helped fuel the outrage cycle around the clip.
Workplace Fallout
Coverage of Báez's professional background has focused on how quickly a parade stunt turned into a career crisis. Outlets that reviewed her online profiles say she had moved into a community-engagement role at Chase after the bank acquired a lifestyle-focused property where she had previously worked, according to Hindustan Times. Reporters say the bank reviewed the viral footage once it surfaced and confirmed that the employee was no longer with the company.
Merch and Resale Fever
The moment the video started circulating, the internet did what it does best and tried to turn trash into cash. Social posts and resale listings quickly appeared, with some users apparently attempting to flip the painted cans while others pointed fans toward Only NY's official DSNY-branded home waste basket as a less legally risky keepsake. Reporters following the frenzy noted marketplace listings and a spike in souvenir-hunting interest around the limited run, per Dexerto.
Legal Questions
For all the public drama, the criminal side has been quiet so far. The NYPD told reporters it had not received any complaints related to the incident, which makes immediate charges unlikely, according to NDTV. City officials, however, point out that dumping garbage on the street and walking off with public property are violations under local rules and could still lead to fines or other action if someone formally reports the case.
Whether losing a job over a parade grab is a fair outcome has split online opinion. What is clear so far is this: the can is back with the city, the role at the bank is gone, and a few seconds of viral video have turned into a cautionary tale about how quickly a street-side stunt can follow you back to the office.
