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The man filmed taking a hat from a young boy at the US Open has admitted he made a serious mistake. Piotr Szczerek, a Polish CEO of a paving company, said he believed the cap was being handed to him. He explained that he thought Kamil Majchrzak was passing it in his direction.

The video, captured during Majchrzak’s match, showed the player offering his hat to a child. Before the boy could take it, Szczerek reached out and grabbed it instead. The clip quickly spread online, sparking anger and widespread criticism. According to the Times, the apology has come out.

I would like to unequivocally apologize to the boy who was harmed, his family, as well as to all the fans and to the player himself. reflexively. I made a serious mistake. In the emotions of the moment, in the joy of the crowd after the victory, I was convinced that the tennis player was handing the cap in my direction for my sons, who had earlier asked for autographs. This mistaken belief caused me to reach out reflexively. Today I know that I did something which appeared to be deliberately taking a souvenir away from a child. That was not my intention, but this does not change the fact that I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans. The cap has been handed over to the boy, and apologies have been made to the family. I hope that at least in part I have repaired the harm caused.

Social media users condemned the act, and the footage was shared millions of times. Many felt the moment reflected poor behavior in front of young fans. The backlash put Szczerek at the center of unwanted attention.

For years, together with my wife, I have been engaged in helping children and young athletes, but this situation has shown me that a single moment of inattention can undo years of work and support. This is for me a painful but necessary lesson in humility. That is why I will now engage even more actively in initiatives supporting children and young people, as well as in actions against violence and hate. I believe that only through deeds can I rebuild the trust that has been lost. Once again, I apologize to all those I have let down.

Majchrzak, who had just defeated Russian ninth seed Karen Khachanov, later addressed the situation. He said it appeared to be a misunderstanding and not intentional. The player emphasized that the mix-up should not overshadow his effort to connect with fans.

Piotr Szczerek experiences company setback after viral moment

A clip from the US Open caused outrage after Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek was filmed taking a hat meant for a child. The cap was being handed out by tennis player Kamil Majchrzak to a young fan named Brock. Before the boy could receive it, Szczerek stepped in and grabbed it.

The footage spread rapidly online, reaching millions of viewers. Many criticized Szczerek’s behavior and accused him of showing poor sportsmanship. The moment became one of the most talked-about incidents of the tournament.

Majchrzak later stepped in to fix the situation. He reached out to Brock, gave him an autographed hat, and spent time with him. The player shared their meeting on Instagram, explaining that he hadn’t realized the child had missed out and acted as soon as he learned about it.

Szczerek, who heads the paving company Drogbruk, later responded to the backlash on a forum. He admitted taking the hat but claimed the criticism had gone too far. Even with Majchrzak’s kind gesture, the debate over fan conduct and respect at major sporting events continues.

How Piotr Szczerek’s video went viral

Kamil Majchrzak had no idea his simple gesture at the US Open would spark a storm. After his upset win over ninth seed Karen Khachanov, the Polish player walked over to greet fans. He signed autographs, posed for photos, and then tried to hand his cap to a young boy waiting by the railing.

In that moment, a man nearby grabbed the hat before the child could take it. He quickly placed it into a woman’s bag beside him. The incident was caught on live television, and within minutes, clips began spreading across social media. Viewers were outraged, and memes mocking the scene flooded the internet.

The man was soon identified as Piotr Szczerek, a Polish businessman and sponsor of the national tennis federation. He also serves as the CEO of paving company Drogbruk. Reports suggested that fake accounts under his name began appearing online, posting misleading statements in an attempt to downplay the backlash.

According to Spanish outlet MARCA, Szczerek deactivated his official social media accounts after the uproar. On a Polish job forum, he faced heavy criticism, with users labeling him a “thief” and a “fraud.” The scandal overshadowed Majchrzak’s victory and highlighted how quickly fan behavior can spark global debate.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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