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CEO who snatched boy's hat at US Open says he made 'huge mistake'

CEO who snatched boy's hat at US Open says he made 'huge mistake'Saralnama

The man who was caught on camera snatching a hat off a young boy at the US Open has said he made a "huge mistake" after footage of the incident went viral. Piotr Szczerek, a Polish chief executive of a paving firm, said he was "convinced" tennis star Kamil Majchrzak had been "passing his hat in my direction". "I know I did something that seemed like consciously collecting a memento from a child," he wrote in a statement. "This wasn't my intention, but it doesn't change the fact that I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans." The video, taken during Majchrzak's match on Thursday, showed the tennis player offering his cap to a child, before Mr Szczerek appears to take it. Versions of the clip were shared widely on social media and prompted criticism of Mr Szczerek's actions. The… (Updated 1 Sep 2025, 20:25 IST; source: link)

Key Points

  • The man who was caught on camera snatching a hat off a young boy at the US Open has said he made a "huge mistake" after footage of the incident went viral
  • Piotr Szczerek, a Polish chief executive of a paving firm, said he was "convinced" tennis star Kamil Majchrzak had been "passing his hat in my direction"
  • "I know I did something that seemed like consciously collecting a memento from a child," he wrote in a statement