·MillionairesMillionaire CEO who went viral for snatching hat from boy at tennis match says he made a ‘huge mistake’ after ‘first come, first served’ By Dave SmithBy Dave SmithEditor, U.S.
NewsDave SmithEditor, U.S.
NewsDave Smith is a writer and editor who previously has been published in Insider, Newsweek, ABC News, and USA TODAY.SEE FULL BIO Kamil Majchrzak of Poland reacts in his match against Sebastian Korda during Day 3 of the ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open at Wake Forest Tennis Complex on August 20, 2025 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.Grant Halverson—Getty ImagesPolish executive Piotr Szczerek, who was on the receiving end of an internet firestorm after a widely circulated showed him snatching a tennis hat from a young fan at a televised match, has issued an apology on Facebook, calling the incident a “huge mistake” in a statement to the BBC and acknowledging his “extremely poor judgment.” The viral moment occurred last Thursday at the U.S.
Open, when Polish tennis player Kamil Majchrzak, fresh from his upset victory over ninth-seed Karen Khachanov, appeared to hand his signed cap to a young fan named Brock.
As the boy reached for the hat, Szczerek, who was standing nearby, quickly grabbed it and placed it in a bag carried by a woman with him.
The incident was captured on television and quickly spread across social media, with the accumulating millions of views and sparking intense criticism.
Users condemned Szczerek’s behavior, with some calling him “the most hated man on the internet.” You can watch the incident below: Who is Piotr Szczerek?
Szczerek is the CEO and co-founder of Drogbruk, a Polish paving and landscaping company he established in 1999 with his wife, Anna.
Based in Błaszki, Poland, the company specializes in paving stones, concrete slabs, fencing systems, and decorative landscaping solutions.
Drogbruk has grown into a successful that sponsors local sports grams, including tennis tournaments and Poland’s Davis Cup team.
Szczerek is deeply involved in tennis, owning a private tennis court at his luxury in Kalisz and co-owning the Calisia Tennis .
Initially, Szczerek did not apologize for his actions at the tennis match.
Instead, he doubled down with a statement on the Polish job forum Gowork that only intensified the backlash, writing: “The recent incident at the tennis match has caused a disportionate online uar.
It’s all the famous hat, of course. Yes, I took it. Yes, I did it quickly.
But as I’ve always said, life is first come, first served.” He continued: “I understand that some people might not it, but please, let’s not make a global scandal out of the hat. It’s just a hat.
If you were faster, you would have it.” The statement with threats of legal action against critics: “I remind you that insulting a public figure is subject to legal liability.
All offensive s, slander, and insinuations will be analyzed for the possibility of taking the matter to court.” The “first come, first served” , in particular, triggered an even more severe wave of criticism online.
But this time, the backlash ext to his , with Drogbruk being “Google-bombed” as its rating plummeted to 1.2 stars from over 600 reviews, most posted within hours of the incident going viral.
The company’s Trustpilot page was also flooded with negative reviews referencing the hat incident. Trustpilot eventually closed the company’s page to new reviews due to media attention.
The apology and course correction After facing days of international condemnation, Szczerek changed course on Monday and issued a comprehensive apology, writing on Facebook: “I would to unequivocally apologize to the young boy, his family, all the fans, and the player himself.
I take full responsibility for my extremely poor judgment and hurtful actions.” The CEO claimed he misunderstood the situation, believing Majchrzak was handing him the hat for his own sons, who had previously requested autographs.
“I got caught up in the heat of the moment and the joy of the victory, mistakenly thinking that Majchrzak was handing the hat to me to give to my sons.” “Regardless of what I believed was happening, my actions caused hurt to the young boy and disappointed the fans.
The hat has been returned to the boy, and apologies have been made to the family.” Szczerek also said previous statements attributed to him online were fabricated, distancing himself from the “first come, first served” s.
The incident ultimately had a positive outcome for Brock, the young fan at the center of the controversy.
Tennis player Majchrzak, who initially was unaware the hat had been taken, launched a social media campaign to locate the boy after seeing the viral .
Within days, Majchrzak successfully connected with Brock and his family, meeting with the boy to present him with a replacement hat and additional U.S.
Open merchandise, sharing photos of their reunion on Instagram.Fortune Global Forum returns Oct. 26–27, 2025 in Riyadh.
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