‘If you were faster, you would have it’: Polish millionaire is internet’s most hated man after stealing gift from child

It’s almost uplifting when the entirety of social media gathers as one to say “nuts to this guy!”. Said guy this week is Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek. He attended the U.S. Open this weekend and was clearly put out at a small child named Brock receiving a gift from victorious tennis star Kamil Majchrzak.

Majchrzak offered his baseball cap to the child, and, in the brief moment it was extended towards the child, Szczerek reached in and snatched it from his grasp. Grinning like the cat that got the cream, Szczerek stuffed it into his wife’s bag, ignoring the distressed child’s cries.

The worst person you know is still a better human than this guy

pic.twitter.com/ay318bDVo1

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 29, 2025

Unfortunately for Szczerek, the entire incident was caught on video and immediately went viral as social media users of every age, nationality, and political persuasion came together to deliver a united diagnosis: this guy sucks!

A twist!

Szczerek’s identity was soon exposed, resulting in a wave of negative reviews against his paving firm Drogbruk. Then, tossing gasoline onto the fire came a gloating statement purportedly from Szczerek:

Response from the Polish millionaire CEO who stole the hat from that kid: https://t.co/XRD7KkOrRI pic.twitter.com/HX40IWsBXU

— Barstool Tennis (@StoolTennis) August 31, 2025

But there’s a twist! Szczerek claims this wasn’t him, and went on to do some serious grovelling on his company’s official social media:

Due to the situation that occurred during Kamil Majchrzak’s match at the US Open, I would like to unequivocally apologise to the boy, his family, all the fans, and the player himself. I made a serious mistake. In the midst of emotion, amidst the crowd’s celebration after the victory, I was convinced that the tennis player was passing the cap to me—for my sons, who had previously asked for autographs.

‘This mistaken belief caused me to instinctively reach out. Today I know that I did something that looked like deliberately taking a souvenir from a child. It wasn’t my intention, but that doesn’t change the fact that I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans.

‘The cap was given to the boy, and an apology to the family. I hope that I have at least partially redressed the harm that has been done.

Szczerek went on to insist that he’d never threatened legal action, and said he’d actually worked with helping children for years, “but this situation has shown me that one moment of inattention can undo years of work and support. This is a painful but necessary lesson in humility for me.”

You can be the judge on whether Szczerek is being sincere, or whether the entire internet vowing to destroy him and his business has forced him into this. Either way, Majchrzak took the time to personally meet with the hatless kid, giving him a new hat and other gifts. So, a happy ending all round. Sort of.