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The Polish CEO who was seen snatching an autographed hat from a child during the U.S. Open broke his silence after going viral.
Piotr Szczerek, the CEO of Drogbruk, said he made a "serious mistake" when he appeared to grab the cap signed by Polish tennis star Kamil Majchrzak that was intended to go to a child next to him, claiming he intended to give it to his sons.
“I would like to unequivocally apologize to the boy who was harmed, his family, as well as all the fans and the player himself,” Szczerek wrote on Instagram. “I made a serious mistake."
“In the emotions, in the crowd’s joy after the victory, I was convinced that the tennis player was handing the cap in my direction — for my sons, who had earlier asked for autographs,” he added. “It is a painful but necessary lesson in humility for me.”
Szczerek said he apologized to the child and his family after the video went last week during his first public statement, debunking reports that he and his family had previously addressed the situation in the days prior.
“For years, together with my wife, I have been involved in helping children and young athletes, but this situation showed me that one moment of carelessness can undo years of work and support,” he wrote. “Therefore, I will engage even more actively in initiatives supporting children and youth, as well as in actions against violence and hate,” he added. “I believe that only through deeds can I rebuild the lost trust.
“Once again, I apologize to everyone I have let down.”
Majchrzak, who defeated Russian Karen Khachanov prior to the autograph incident, acknowledged that the incident stemmed from "some kind of confusion" as Szczerek sponsors his tennis federation in Poland.
“I was pointing, giving the hat, but I had a lot going on after my match, after being super-tired and super-excited for the win. I just missed it,” Majchrzak said via the New York Post.
“I had, like, a dead look, if you know what I mean. I’m sure the guy was also acting in the moment of heat, in the moment of emotions,” he added.
Majchrzak eventually met up with the child, apologized and gave him a new signed hat and other gifts on Saturday (August 30).