JPMorgan Employee Terminated Following Parade Disturbance
A New York Knicks fan, identified as Angie Baez, 40, has been terminated from her position at JP Morgan Chase following an incident captured on camera during the team’s championship parade. The footage shows Baez emptying a public trash receptacle onto a Manhattan sidewalk before taking the bin with her.
A spokesperson for Chase confirmed on Tuesday that Baez is no longer employed by the company. The incident occurred during the Knicks’ open-top bus parade through Manhattan last Thursday, which celebrated the team’s first NBA championship in 53 years. Millions of fans gathered along the Canyon of Heroes and surrounding streets for the festivities.
Details of the Incident
Viral video clips show Baez, dressed in Knicks colors, tipping the contents of a limited-edition trash bin – painted in the team’s signature blue and orange for the celebration – onto the pavement. She was then seen walking away with the bin. Another image reportedly shows Baez smiling as she brought the receptacle onto the subway.
The New York City Department of Sanitation condemned the fan’s actions, labeling them illegal, antisocial, and “incredibly stupid.” A statement from the department emphasized that dumping trash on the street and stealing public property are unlawful behaviors and uncharacteristic of New Yorkers.
Professional Background
Prior to this incident, Baez held the title of Executive Director of Community and Industry Engagement for Card and Connected Commerce at JPMorgan Chase. Her now-deleted LinkedIn profile indicated she had been promoted to this role over a year ago. Before joining Chase, she served as Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Infatuation, a restaurant-review website acquired by Chase.
Baez’s professional biography highlighted her dedication to making the food-media industry more equitable and described her as a significant voice in the field. She was also noted for her Dominican heritage, Bronx roots, and passion for storytelling, creativity, and culture. Her work at The Infatuation aimed to make the company a leader in promoting a more equitable and relatable food media landscape. Additionally, Baez is reported to have co-founded Same Page Co., a talent agency focused on improving representation and equity for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals in media and industry.
Earlier in her career, Baez held diversity and inclusion positions at companies including Squarespace, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hudson’s Bay, and Saks Off 5th.
Legal Status and Other Parade Incidents
As of June 20, the NYPD stated that no complaints had been filed regarding the trash can incident, and Baez has not been charged with a crime. In New York, theft of property valued under $1,000 can be classified as petit larceny, a misdemeanor, while littering carries separate penalties.
The trash can incident was one of several notable occurrences during the Knicks’ parade celebrations. Reports also emerged of a fight between two fans over a viewing spot and a brief, humorous encounter where Knicks player Tyler Kolek was initially stopped by officers while running alongside the team bus and interacting with fans, before being identified as a member of the championship team.
