Who is CEO Piotr Szczerek? The man who went viral for snatching a signed cap from a young kid
A post-match moment at the 2025 US Open has gone viral– not because of the match, but because of a gesture that left people angry. A video showed a man snatching a signed cap that was meant for a child, and it quickly spread online, drawing backlash from around the world.
A gesture gone wrong
The man was later identified as Piotr Szczerek , a Polish entrepreneur and CEO of Drogbruk , an outdoor paving and landscaping company. The cap, signed by Polish tennis player Kamil Majchrzak , was supposed to go to a boy near the court. But before the child could take it, Szczerek snatched it and put it into his wife’s handbag.
What should have been a kind, memorable moment for the boy instead turned into a controversy, with the clip drawing sharp backlash across social media.
Internet users react, identify the CEO
Once the clip went viral, social media users identified the man as Piotr Szczerek, co-founder of the Polish company Drogbruk, which specialises in paving and landscaping products.
Watch the viral video here:
Soon after, users began sharing details of his business and flooded public review sites with negative comments. Many condemned the act, labelling it insensitive and unnecessary.
One user posted: “Nothing is more disgusting than a child bully. He is Piotr Szczerek, the owner of the Polish Drogbruk company, stealing the cap of Kamil Majchrzak during the US Open. Disgusting people.”
Another added, “The internet didn't just find him. They found his company. And they're lighting up every review site they can find. This is what happens when the world sees you rob a kid's moment, and you smile like you got away with it.”
Kamil Majchrzak steps in
In response to the controversy, Kamil Majchrzak reached out to the young fan, Brok, and personally gave him another signed cap along with some extra memorabilia.
The move was warmly received, with many praising the tennis player for stepping in and making things right after the incident.
Szczerek responds with a statement
According to a Times of India report, amid the criticism, Piotr Szczerek responded publicly on a Polish online forum, where he appeared to stand by his actions.
“Yes, I took it. Yes, I did it quickly. But as I’ve always said, life is first-come, first-served.”
As quoted in a Times of India report, he further said on a Goworkd forum: “The recent incident at the tennis match has caused a disproportionate online uproar. It's all about the famous hat, of course… I understand that some people might not like it, but please, let's not make a global scandal out of the hat. It's just a hat. If you were faster, you would have it.”
Szczerek also appeared to issue a caution to those attacking him online:
“Regarding online hate, I remind you that insulting a public figure is subject to legal liability. All offensive comments, slander, and insinuations will be analyzed for the possibility of taking the matter to court.”
“In the end, chin up, hats off, less venom, more sportsmanship.”
However, his remarks failed to calm the criticism. Many readers called the explanation dismissive and said it ignored the emotional value of the moment for the young fan involved.
As per media reports, since the video went viral, Szczerek has deactivated his social media accounts, but both he and his company remain under heavy public scrutiny.
No official apology yet
As of now, there has been no formal apology issued by either Szczerek or his company. The public, however, remains vocal, with many urging him to reflect on his actions and issue a more responsible response.
A gesture gone wrong
The man was later identified as Piotr Szczerek , a Polish entrepreneur and CEO of Drogbruk , an outdoor paving and landscaping company. The cap, signed by Polish tennis player Kamil Majchrzak , was supposed to go to a boy near the court. But before the child could take it, Szczerek snatched it and put it into his wife’s handbag.
What should have been a kind, memorable moment for the boy instead turned into a controversy, with the clip drawing sharp backlash across social media.
Internet users react, identify the CEO
Once the clip went viral, social media users identified the man as Piotr Szczerek, co-founder of the Polish company Drogbruk, which specialises in paving and landscaping products.
Watch the viral video here:
Soon after, users began sharing details of his business and flooded public review sites with negative comments. Many condemned the act, labelling it insensitive and unnecessary.
One user posted: “Nothing is more disgusting than a child bully. He is Piotr Szczerek, the owner of the Polish Drogbruk company, stealing the cap of Kamil Majchrzak during the US Open. Disgusting people.”
Another added, “The internet didn't just find him. They found his company. And they're lighting up every review site they can find. This is what happens when the world sees you rob a kid's moment, and you smile like you got away with it.”
Kamil Majchrzak steps in
In response to the controversy, Kamil Majchrzak reached out to the young fan, Brok, and personally gave him another signed cap along with some extra memorabilia.
The move was warmly received, with many praising the tennis player for stepping in and making things right after the incident.
Szczerek responds with a statement
According to a Times of India report, amid the criticism, Piotr Szczerek responded publicly on a Polish online forum, where he appeared to stand by his actions.
“Yes, I took it. Yes, I did it quickly. But as I’ve always said, life is first-come, first-served.”
As quoted in a Times of India report, he further said on a Goworkd forum: “The recent incident at the tennis match has caused a disproportionate online uproar. It's all about the famous hat, of course… I understand that some people might not like it, but please, let's not make a global scandal out of the hat. It's just a hat. If you were faster, you would have it.”
Szczerek also appeared to issue a caution to those attacking him online:
“Regarding online hate, I remind you that insulting a public figure is subject to legal liability. All offensive comments, slander, and insinuations will be analyzed for the possibility of taking the matter to court.”
“In the end, chin up, hats off, less venom, more sportsmanship.”
However, his remarks failed to calm the criticism. Many readers called the explanation dismissive and said it ignored the emotional value of the moment for the young fan involved.
As per media reports, since the video went viral, Szczerek has deactivated his social media accounts, but both he and his company remain under heavy public scrutiny.
No official apology yet
As of now, there has been no formal apology issued by either Szczerek or his company. The public, however, remains vocal, with many urging him to reflect on his actions and issue a more responsible response.
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