Polish CEO's Hat Grab Backfires, Sparks Outrage and 1-Star Review Tsunami

Piotr Szczerek, the Polish millionaire CEO of paving company Drogbruk, has apologized for snatching a hat from a young fan at the US Open, calling it a “huge mistake.” The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, sparked public outrage and led to his company being “review bombed” with one-star ratings on platforms such as Trustpilot and Google. At the time, Szczerek believed the hat, offered by Polish tennis player Kamil Majchrzak, was meant for him or his sons, who had previously asked for autographs from the athlete. However, he later acknowledged that his actions appeared to be a deliberate attempt to collect a memento from a child, which was not his intention.

Szczerek has since returned the hat to the young fan and issued a formal apology to the boy, his family, the tennis player, and the fans who witnessed the event. In a statement published on his company’s website, he emphasized that neither he, his wife, nor his sons had used social media or legal counsel to comment on the matter, clarifying that any statements attributed to them were not authentic. The CEO also expressed a commitment to taking greater steps to support children and youth, as well as to combat violence and hate, following the incident.

The controversy began during Majchrzak’s second-round match at the US Open, where he had just defeated Russian player Karen Khachanov. As Majchrzak celebrated his win, he offered his cap to a young fan who appeared excited to receive the autographed item. However, before the child could securely hold the hat, Szczerek intervened and took it away, reportedly intending it for his sons. The moment was widely shared online, with one post alone racking up 10 million views on X. Public reactions were largely negative, with many labeling Szczerek as “embarrassing” and a “thief,” and some even calling for Drogbruk to be banned from sponsoring sporting events.

Majchrzak, who later reunited with the boy, gifted him a US Open-branded bag of souvenirs and posted the encounter on Instagram. He described the event as a “kind of confusion,” stating that he had not immediately realized the hat had been taken and that Szczerek may have acted on impulse in the moment of celebration. The tennis player, ranked 76th in the ATP men’s singles standings, had previously withdrawn from his third-round match against Swiss player Leandro Riedi due to a torn intercostal muscle.

The incident has had notable repercussions for Drogbruk, which sponsors Polish athletes and sporting events. The company, founded by Szczerek and his wife in 1999, now faces a Trustpilot rating of 1.1 stars and a Google rating of 1.2 stars. Several reviewers expressed concerns about the company’s moral integrity and suggested that it is unfit for any business dealings. The fallout highlights the growing public expectation for public figures to uphold ethical conduct, particularly in high-visibility settings such as professional sports events.

Szczerek’s actions and the subsequent backlash demonstrate how a single moment of poor judgment can have long-lasting effects on both personal reputation and business operations. As he has committed to greater community engagement and initiatives supporting youth development, the focus remains on whether these efforts can restore the trust he has lost.

Source:

[1] BBC News (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce93klk0jpzo)

[2] NDTV (https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/drogbruk-piotr-szczerek-kamil-majchrzak-polish-millionaires-company-review-bombed-after-he-snatched-cap-from-child-at-us-open-9202063)

[3] CNN (https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/31/sport/tennis-us-open-kamil-majchrzak-young-fan-intl)

[4] Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamil_Majchrzak)

[5] Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/poland/comments/1n5ptz0/a_real_response_from_the_piotr_szczerek_the_ceo/)