[Sportschosun Reporter Jang Jong-ho] A female fan sparked outrage after she was caught stealing a public trash can from the street during the New York Knicks' championship celebration in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
As the controversy grew, she eventually returned the trash can to its original place, but she could not avoid a fine.
According to the New York Post, a video spread online showing a female fan dumping street trash onto the ground before walking away with the trash can. The can was a city-owned fixture decorated in the Knicks' signature orange and blue colors. In the video, the woman was wearing a New York Knicks jersey and fan gear. She emptied the trash onto the sidewalk and left the scene carrying the can. She was later seen moving through the subway while still holding it.
The woman was identified as a 40-year-old employee at JPMorgan Chase & Co., a well-known financial company. The company said, "The employee no longer works for the company."
After seeing the video, the New York City Department of Sanitation criticized the act as "an unbelievably stupid thing to do."
She later returned the trash can, according to reports. However, she was fined a total of $175, including $75 for illegal dumping and $100 for obstructing sanitation operations, or about 270,000 won.
The New York City Department of Sanitation recently shared a photo of the returned trash can on social media, saying, "Welcome home. We missed you."
The incident took place during a large-scale championship celebration held after the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA title for the first time in 53 years. The absurd episode, which unfolded amid a euphoric public celebration, drew major attention online and recorded millions of views.
Jang Jong-ho, bellho@sportschosun.com
