A Polish businessman has found himself at the center of controversy after a video of him taking a hat from a child at the U.S. Open went viral. Piotr Szczerek, who runs a paving company called Drogbruk, publicly apologized for his actions following widespread outrage.
The incident occurred during a match when tennis player Kamil Majchrzak handed a cap to a young boy. In the video, Szczerek suddenly reached in and grabbed the hat, putting it into his wife’s tote bag while ignoring the child’s protests. The moment sparked anger online, with many criticizing Szczerek for what appeared to be a deliberate act of taking a souvenir from a child.
In response to the backlash, Szczerek took to Instagram to express his regret. He stated that he mistakenly believed the hat was meant for him and that he had no intention of upsetting the child. "I made a serious mistake," he wrote. He went on to apologize to the boy, his family, and the fans, acknowledging that his actions had hurt the child and disappointed many.
Szczerek explained that in the excitement of the crowd after Majchrzak’s victory, he thought the player was handing the cap to him for his sons, who had asked for autographs. He admitted that it looked as if he was intentionally taking the hat from the boy, which was never his intention. He mentioned that the cap has since been returned to the child, and he hopes to have made amends.
The tennis player later located the boy, identified as Brock, and shared photos with him, expressing goodwill on social media. Meanwhile, Szczerek faced significant backlash online, with many people leaving negative reviews for his company and criticizing him for his actions.
This incident serves as a reminder of how quickly actions can lead to public outrage, especially when they involve children. Szczerek described the experience as a painful but necessary lesson in humility.
