French Montana has stepped in to provide critical support for a New York City taxi driver whose livelihood was destroyed during a chaotic post-Knicks win celebration near Madison Square Garden last weekend. The incident, which occurred on June 13 following the Knicks’ historic Game 5 NBA Finals victory, left 59-year-old Algerian immigrant and father Noureddine Bitat without his primary source of income.
Viral footage circulating online captured the harrowing moment an overzealous crowd surrounded Bitat’s yellow cab, forcibly pulling him from the vehicle before smashing the windshield, stomping on the roof, and ultimately totaling the car. Bitat had been working a 13-hour shift when the celebration turned destructive.
Upon witnessing the footage, French Montana immediately utilized his platform to rally support, posting a call-to-action on X: “Somebody find him for me so we can help him get back on his feet.”
On Wednesday, June 17, a collaborative effort involving French Montana, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, and digital creator Zachery “MDMotivator” Dereniowski culminated in the presentation of a $75,000 check to Bitat. A GoFundMe campaign launched in the wake of the incident successfully reached this goal, which also covers six months of living expenses for the driver.
Speaking to CBS Mornings, French Montana expressed why the situation resonated so deeply with him. “When I first came to America with my father, he was trying to open up his own businesses and him driving a taxi was one of them,” he shared. “I just saw a man try to feed his family. I asked him do he even watch the Knicks. He said, ‘I don’t know. I don’t even know what the Knicks is.'”
The rapper emphasized that Bitat was simply a bystander caught in an unfortunate situation. “He doesn’t deserve it. So, we all came together to help him.”
As Bitat considers his future, he has expressed hesitation about returning to driving after the traumatic ordeal. French Montana confirmed he remains committed to supporting the driver through this transition, stating, “He said he doesn’t want to drive anymore. And I just told him I will personally assist him until he finds out what’s the next thing he will do.”