Walk-through slides
Sept. 8, 2025
“Fake apology from CEO circulates after US Open hat controversy”
FALSE
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Note:
These slides are designed to be delivered to students in slideshow mode.
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A viral video appears to show a man snatching a hat that was being given to a child by tennis player Kamil Majchrzak at the U.S. Open in August 2025.
The claim
Let’s take a look.
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Shortly after this video went viral, social media users claimed the man had issued a statement reading, “Yes, I took it. Yes, I did it quickly. But as I’ve always said, life is first come, first served.“
The claim
This is not the man’s genuine statement. Let’s take a closer look.
FALSE
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Take a closer look at this post. Is there anything suspicious?
Is there anything about this statement that you’d like to know?
A closer look
FALSE
Was this statement made in a television interview?
Or in a social media post?
This post doesn’t include a citation, and it doesn’t link to a source.
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Rage bait is a form of viral misinformation that tries to elicit anger (or “rage”) from people as a tactic to get engagement online.
Rage bait
FALSE
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The viral video itself (which is authentic) could be considered rage bait. Note the word “TERRIBLE” in all caps and the suggestion for punishment.
Let’s watch the video again. This time, take a moment to consider how this video makes you feel. What sort of person steals a hat from a child?
Rage bait
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Now, let’s read this alleged statement again.
Rage Bait
FALSE
That is exactly what someone who steals a hat from a kid would say! What a jerk!
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We developed an opinion of this person when we watched the rage-bait video. This statement seems to confirm that opinion, which makes this statement feel true.
And since it feels true, we might ignore the red flags that would normally make us suspicious of this claim.
Rage bait
FALS
FALSE
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The man in the video was identified as Piotr Szczerek, the CEO of a Polish paving company. On Sept. 1, Szczerek issued a statement about the incident.
The real statement
Where do you think this statement was posted?
Maybe he talked to a news outlet?
Or maybe on his official social media account?
I should look for an official source for this statement.
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Szczerek posted a statement to social media and to his business profile on the Polish site Go Work.
The real statement
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The fake statement was viewed millions of times on social media.
Discussion
FALSE
Why did it go viral?
How could people have checked that the viral statement was authentic when they first saw it?
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Want more?
Here are a few links to more RumorGuard walkthrough slides
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These exercises originated in the Sept. 8, 2025, issue of The Sift® newsletter from the News Literacy Project. You can read archives of the newsletter and subscribe here.
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newslit.org
Follow us at @NewsLitProject
Thank you!
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