This situation triggered me more than I care to admit. This will be my last mention of it, otherwise, I’ll obsess over my deepest, darkest thoughts concerning people like this.
Today, the CEO who stole the hat from the child issued an apology -obviously written by someone else, then edited by him. The following is an excerpt from that apology. Read it, then I’ll point out the red flag traits afterward.
You’ll notice that he starts off with it all being about him -his emotions, his wife, his sons, his victory, his autographs…
“Due to the situation that occurred” – The intent is direct the blame on the event, not him. This prepares you for what’s coming up.
“My emotions” – He either didn’t write this, or is self aware enough to know he has to appear to have emotional vulnerabilities. Narcissists are incapable of feeling anything other than anger/rage/violence, but the more experienced ones do understand the value of pretending to have them.
“the crowd’s celebration after my victory” – The crowd was celebrating his victory – not the tennis player’s. That victory was his.
The lines about being mistaken with the autograph, are easily debunked in the video by how quickly he snatched the hat from the child’s hand then ignored the child -until he gave the marker back to him.
“The cap was given to the boy and an apology to the family” This word play makes it sound as though HE returned the cap to the child he stole it from and HE apologized… That’s not what happened, but that’s what he wants you to believe. “the cap” was a different one given to the child by the tennis player after the video went viral. “an apology” is not him apologizing. It’s corporate speak that provides a generic apology without admitting accountability.
The best one – “the boy” Never does he humanize the child he stole the hat from or the family. They remain objectified. “the boy with no name.”
I’d say someone wrote this apology for him, then he added the first part by his own hand in order to ensure his importance is acknowledged before getting into the unimportant stuff.
In my opinion, this entire situation is a textbook case of NPD.
Committing a self-serving act. Getting caught. Playing it off. Insulting the victim. Threatening anyone who would challenge him. Finally, crafting a hollow apology for no other reason than to get himself out of the spotlight.
I guarantee you he will act like this never happened and will become openly aggressive if ever approached about it. In his smaller circles, he will continue to try and pretend he was the victim and that the entire world overreacted to his theft.
He will likely keep his job. Keep his fortune. Keep his status. As long as he keeps the company in the black and offers fake apologies for his behavior, all is always forgiven in the land of the elites.
Off The Rails 