A viral clip from the US Open has led to widespread backlash after Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek was seen taking a hat intended for a child, handed out by tennis player Kamil Majchrzak.
The incident unfolded when Majchrzak attempted to give the hat to a young fan named Brock. However, footage shows Szczerek snatching it before the child could receive it.
The moment quickly spread across social media, amassing tens of millions of views and drawing sharp criticism.
Following the viral reaction, Majchrzak personally intervened to make amends. He contacted Brock directly, gifting him an autographed hat and spending time with him, later sharing the meeting on Instagram.
The tennis player clarified that he had been unaware that the child did not receive the original hat and acted promptly to resolve the situation once informed.
Szczerek, identified as the CEO of the Polish paving company Drogbruk, later defended himself on the Gowork forum. He acknowledged taking the hat but dismissed the reaction as excessive.
“Yes, I took it. Yes, I did it quickly. But as I’ve always said, life is first come, first served,” he wrote. He also warned that offensive online comments against him could lead to legal consequences.
The response online has been strongly critical. Users on Polish forums labelled him “embarrassing” and a “thief,” with Drogbruk’s rating on Gowork dropping to 1.4 after thousands of negative reviews.
While Majchrzak’s gesture ensured Brock received a replacement hat, the incident continues to spark debate over sportsmanship and fan behaviour at major sporting events.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ