NEW YORK —

The man who has been criticized after footage of him snatching a hat off a young boy at the U.S. Open went viral has apologized, saying he made a “huge mistake.”

Piotr Szczerek, identified as a Polish chief executive, was seen taking a hat from Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak as he tried to give it to the young fan after his second round win against Karen Khachanov on Thursday.

Majchrzak took off his cap and appeared to pass it to the boy who was clutching a giant tennis ball with both hands. As the boy reached out to take the cap, Szczerek standing next to him snatched it away and gave it to a woman who put it in her handbag despite the boy’s visible protestations. The boy and Szczerek appeared not to know each other.

The clip subsequently went viral on social media, with many c

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