Piotr Szczerek, the chief executive of Drogbruk, admitted he made a “huge mistake” after footage of him taking a hat from a child at the US Open went viral.
Szczerek claimed he was “convinced” that tennis player Kamil Majchrzak had been "passing his hat in my direction" and that he didn’t intend to take the cap from the child.
"I know I did something that seemed like consciously collecting a memento from a child," he wrote in a statement. "This wasn't my intention, but it doesn't change the fact that I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans."
"I would like to unequivocally apologise to the injured boy, his family, as well as all the fans and the player himself,” the 50-year-old CEO wrote.
Szczerek said he returned the hat to the child and added that he hoped it "at least partially repaired the damage that was done.”
Tennis player speaks out after incident
Majchrzak told the New York Post he believed there was some kind of confusion in the interaction.
"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," he said. "I just missed it... I'm sure the guy was also acting in the moment of heat, in the moment of emotions."