Polish business executive Piotr Szczerek, who was on the receiving end of an internet firestorm after a widely circulated video 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 live television and quickly spread across social media, with the video 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 business that sponsors local sports programs, including tennis tournaments and Poland’s Davis Cup team. Szczerek is deeply involved in tennis, owning a private tennis court at his luxury home in Kalisz and co-owning the Calisia Tennis Pro club.
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 disproportionate online uproar. It’s all about 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 like 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 concluded with threats of legal action against critics: “I remind you that insulting a public figure is subject to legal liability. All offensive comments, slander, and insinuations will be analyzed for the possibility of taking the matter to court.”
The “first come, first served” comment, in particular, triggered an even more severe wave of criticism online. But this time, the backlash extended to his business, 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 like 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” comments.
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 video. 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.