A grown man is facing widespread backlash after being caught on camera snatching a gifted hat meant for a young fan from Polish tennis star Kamil Majchrzak at the US Open.
The disturbing incident unfolded Thursday afternoon, shortly after Majchrzak’s dramatic five-set victory over No. 9 seed Karen Khachanov. As the tennis star greeted fans and signed autographs courtside, broadcast footage captured the upsetting moment.
Majchrzak had removed his hat and reached out to hand it to a young boy in the stands — only for a man nearby, holding a tennis ball, to swoop in and grab it. He then stuffed the cap into his wife’s bag, seemingly indifferent to the child it was intended for.
“What are you doing?” the stunned boy yelled, clearly distraught by the shameless act. The man ignored the child’s protests and even had the audacity to push a water bottle toward Majchrzak, requesting another autograph.
Unaware of what had just transpired, Majchrzak continued signing autographs. It wasn’t until the following day that he realized the hat never made it to the intended recipient.
“After the match I didn’t record that my cap didn’t get to the boy,” the 29-year-old athlete wrote in an Instagram post Friday, alongside screenshots of the heartbroken young fan.
“Hey Guys, could you help me find the Kid from my match. If it’s you (or your parents see this), please send me a DM.”
An hour later, Majchrzak shared a follow-up post confirming the boy had been found and expressed his gratitude: “Impressed by the power of the internet.”
Online, fans and social media users have been quick to condemn the man who turned what should’ve been a touching moment into a public outrage. Many labeled him a “jerk,” a “terrible man,” and an “a**hole.”
“Stealing from a child is completely disgusting,” one Reddit user wrote Friday.
Luckily, everything worked out in the end!