A New York City taxi driver whose vehicle was destroyed during celebrations following the New York Knicks’ championship victory is receiving an outpouring of support after a viral video highlighted his ordeal.
The Knicks’ long-awaited NBA title sparked massive celebrations across the city, but some of the festivities turned chaotic. Among those caught in the turmoil was taxi driver Noureddine Bitat, whose cab became the target of a destructive crowd.
Videos shared widely on social media showed Bitat being pulled from his taxi as a group of revelers climbed onto the vehicle, shattered its windows, and caused extensive damage. The footage quickly gained traction online, drawing millions of views and widespread condemnation from viewers.
One of the people who saw the video was rapper French Montana. Disturbed by what happened, the music star publicly expressed interest in helping the driver recover from the financial losses caused by the incident.
French Montana later connected with Zachery Dereniowski and representatives from the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, the labor organization that represents Bitat. Together, they launched a fundraising campaign aimed at helping the driver rebuild after the destruction of his livelihood.
According to the fundraiser, Bitat’s situation changed dramatically in a matter of moments when the crowd allegedly assaulted him and severely damaged the taxi he depended on for income. The extensive damage left him facing significant financial challenges and uncertainty about his ability to continue working.
Dereniowski shared that after learning about the driver’s story through French Montana, they partnered with the New York Taxi Workers Alliance to provide direct support and help restore Bitat’s ability to earn a living.
The campaign quickly gained momentum as thousands of people responded to the driver’s story. At the time of publication, the fundraiser had collected more than $76,000 from over 2,000 donors.
While the championship celebrations created unforgettable memories for many Knicks fans, Bitat’s experience served as a reminder of how quickly large public gatherings can turn destructive. Thanks to the generosity of strangers and the attention generated by social media, however, the taxi driver is now receiving support from people across the country as he works to recover from the incident.
