Polish CEO Sparks Outrage By Snatching Kid’s Hat at US Open

A tennis match in New York turned into an international PR disaster this weekend, and it wasn’t because of the score. Piotr Szczerek, the CEO of a paving stone company in Poland, became public enemy number one online after cameras caught him swiping a hat meant for a kid at the US Open.

The hat was being handed out by Polish tennis star Kamil Majchrzak, who had just finished his match. Majchrzak tried to give it to a young fan, but before the boy could grab it, Szczerek snatched it and bolted. Viewers immediately branded him as everything from a “Bond villain” to “the world’s worst tennis dad.”

After two days of backlash, Szczerek issued a groveling apology. He admitted to making what he called “a serious mistake,” and said he thought Majchrzak was offering the hat to him and his sons, who had just asked for autographs. He added that the whole thing had been “a painful but necessary lesson in humility.”

In his statement, Szczerek promised to focus more on supporting kids and anti-hate initiatives, saying, “Only through deeds can I rebuild the lost trust.”

Meanwhile, Majchrzak himself stayed out of the fray. He admitted he hadn’t even noticed the hat grab in the moment, since he was still in a post-match fog. Once he found out, though, he stepped up in a big way. The tennis pro personally met with the boy on Saturday and showered him with swag.

And in a twist that makes this whole saga slightly less villainous, Majchrzak actually believes Szczerek’s explanation. The two know each other well, since Szczerek’s company sponsors the Polish Tennis Federation.

Still, the internet is unlikely to let Szczerek live this down anytime soon. Whether he meant it or not, stealing a kid’s souvenir on international TV is the kind of viral moment that follows you forever. If nothing else, let this be a lesson to sports fans everywhere: when in doubt, keep your hands to yourself.