The CEO of a Polish paving firm “unequivocally” apologized Monday after he was seen on a viral video taking a hat signed by tennis participant Kamil Majchrzak from a toddler through the U.S. Open in New York Metropolis.
Piotr Szczerek, the CEO of paving firm Drogbruk, was caught on video grabbing a signed hat that it appeared Majchrzak was attempting at hand to a toddler. Video of the incident went viral over the weekend after the Polish tennis star defeated Russia’s Karen Khachanov on Thursday.
“I wish to unequivocally apologize to the younger boy, his household, all of the followers, and the participant himself,” Szczerek mentioned in a put up on social media on Monday. “I take full duty for my extraordinarily poor judgment and hurtful actions.”
Szczerek mentioned within the assertion it was “by no means my intent” to take the hat from a younger fan, however that he “turned caught up within the warmth of the second and the enjoyment of the victory, and I believed Majchrzak was handing a hat to me to offer to my sons, who had beforehand requested for autographs.”
“No matter what I believed was taking place, the actions I took damage the younger boy and disillusioned the followers,” he mentioned.
Szczerek mentioned he has despatched the hat to the boy and prolonged an apology to his household.
“I consider I did what most of athletes would do in this sort of state of affairs,” Majchrzak mentioned in an electronic mail to NBC Information, including that he hoped the boy and his household in the end had an important day.
On Saturday, Majchrzak shared a photograph of himself with the boy on his Instagram story, writing, “Good day World, Along with Brock we want you an important day!”
In one other Instagram story, he shared a photograph of himself giving items and swag to the younger fan.
Drogbruk didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
