The CEO of a Polish paving company issued a clear apology on Monday after being captured in a viral video taking a hat, signed by tennis player Kamil Majchrzak, from a child at the U.S. Open in New York City.
Piotr Szczerek, CEO of Drogbruk, was seen in the video grabbing a signed hat that Majchrzak appeared to be offering to a child. The footage became widely shared over the weekend following Majchrzak’s victory over Russia’s Karen Khachanov on Thursday.
“I would like to unequivocally apologize to the young boy, his family, all the fans, and the player himself,” Szczerek wrote on social media on Monday. “I take full responsibility for my extremely poor judgment and hurtful actions.”
Szczerek mentioned in his statement that it was “never my intent” to take the hat from a young fan, explaining that he got “caught up in the heat of the moment and the joy of the victory,” and believed Majchrzak was handing the hat to him for his sons, who had previously asked for autographs.
“Regardless of what I believed was happening, the actions I took hurt the young boy and disappointed the fans,” he said.
Szczerek said he has sent the hat to the boy and extended an apology to his family.
“I believe I did what most of the athletes would do in such a situation,” Majchrzak said in an email to NBC News, expressing hope that the boy and his family still had a wonderful day.
On Saturday, Majchrzak posted a picture on his Instagram story with the boy, captioning it, “Hello World, Together with Brock we wish you a great day!”
In another Instagram story, he shared a photo of himself giving gifts and swag to the young fan.
Drogbruk did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
