CEO Who Snagged Boy's Hat at US Open Admits to a 'Huge Mistake

The man at the center of a viral storm that turned a heartwarming US Open moment into a global controversy has finally broken his silence, issuing a formal apology for his actions. Piotr Szczerek, the Polish CEO of a paving company who was filmed snatching a signed cap from a young boy, has admitted to making a "huge mistake," a stark change in tone from his initial defiant stance. The incident, which unfolded during a post-match celebration for Polish tennis star Kamil Majchrzak, became an internet phenomenon, with the video of the hat grab racking up tens of millions of views and sparking an unprecedented online hunt that identified and shamed the CEO and his company.
The entire drama began with a simple, kind gesture. Following his five-set victory, Majchrzak was signing autographs for fans when he leaned down to hand his signed cap to a boy in the crowd. The moment, however, was interrupted by a man who, with a swift and predatory motion, snatched the cap from the player's hand, just as it was about to reach the boy. The video captured the child's visible disappointment and the man's quick, almost furtive, movement as he handed the hat to his wife to be stashed away in her handbag. The clip instantly went viral, and the internet's collective fury was unleashed.
Within hours, an army of online sleuths had identified the man as Piotr Szczerek, the CEO of Drogbruk, a well-known paving and landscaping company in Poland. The backlash was swift and severe. Szczerek's company's review pages were flooded with one-star ratings and angry comments, and his personal social media accounts were bombarded with criticism. He was dubbed "The Paving Stone Grinch" and "The CEO of Stealing Dreams." The public outrage was so intense that Szczerek was forced to deactivate his social media accounts, but the digital storm continued to rage, threatening to do lasting damage to his personal reputation and the brand he had spent decades building.
Amid the firestorm, Szczerek's initial response only fueled the public's anger. A statement attributed to him circulated online in which he reportedly defended his actions with a "first-come, first-served" mentality. This perceived lack of remorse, coupled with a threat of legal action against his online critics, only solidified his status as a public villain. It was a spectacular public relations disaster, and for a man whose company's brand was built on public image and customer trust, it was a costly miscalculation.
However, the CEO has now performed a dramatic reversal, issuing a full and unequivocal apology on his company's official social media channels. In the statement, Szczerek expressed his "sincere apology to the young boy, his family, all the fans, and the athlete himself." He explained that in the excitement of the moment, he was "convinced that the tennis player was handing the cap in my direction—for my sons, who had earlier asked for autographs." He admitted that his "mistaken belief" caused him to act instinctively and that he now understands he "hurt the boy and disappointed the fans." This new statement, which was reportedly vetted to prevent further public missteps, aims to salvage his reputation and mitigate the damage to his company.
While Szczerek's apology is a significant development, it is important to note that the situation has already been resolved for the boy. The hero of the story, Kamil Majchrzak, saw the viral video and, through the power of social media, was able to track down the boy, whose name was identified as Brok. Majchrzak met with him, gave him a new signed hat and other memorabilia, and even posed for a photo with the overjoyed young fan. This heartwarming act of kindness served as a stark contrast to the CEO's initial actions and was widely praised online. The incident, which began as a cruel and selfish act, has now concluded with a moment of humility from the CEO and a show of immense class and compassion from the tennis player, providing a valuable lesson in the power of social media to both inflict and rectify public wrongs.
Source@BBC