Polish CEO Apologizes for Snatching Boy’s Hat at US Open

Piotr Szczerek, a Polish businessman and CEO, publicly apologized after being filmed snatching a hat from a young fan that tennis player Kamil Majchrzak intended to give to the boy during the 2025 U.S. Open. Szczerek explained that he mistakenly believed the hat was meant for him to give to his sons and expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging the hurt caused to the child and fans. He returned the hat to the boy and issued a sincere apology to the boy's family, pledging to support initiatives for children and youth in the future. Majchrzak also personally met the young fan, gifting him a new hat and taking photos to mend the situation. The incident sparked widespread social media backlash, prompting Szczerek to call the incident a moment of poor judgment and a painful lesson in humility. Both Majchrzak and Szczerek are from Poland, and the tennis player retired from his match shortly after due to injury.