The new Target store is seen in Guelph, Ontario, March 4, 2013, on the eve of its opening. The American retail giant is set to open its first three Canadian pilot stores on March 5.
The new Target store is seen in Guelph, Ontario, March 4, 2013, on the eve of its opening. The American retail giant is set to open its first three Canadian pilot stores on March 5. Reuters/Geoff Robins

"Alex From Target" reached celebrity status on Sunday, Nov. 2, when a captured image of the teenager went viral on social media sites like Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter. However, 16-year-old Alex recently revealed that there is also a dark side to his instant fame which includes stalking, online bullying and death threats.

The high school student revealed in an interview with New York Times that his normal life is now changed with young girls suddenly appearing and taking photos of him whether he is at work or at school. Alex could no longer enjoy some privacy, particularly when he went to Whataburger with his father, because he was welcomed with screaming teenage girls when he entered the restaurant.

Ever since "Alex From Target" exploded on the Internet, the teenager started to receive interview requests from different news outlets or talk shows, offers from advertising deals and agents from TV, movie and modeling wanting to personally meet the viral star. However, Alex revealed that he is now experiencing negative things from being an Internet star.

Aside from girls following him around, Alex shared that he has received death threats both on social media and personal messages. For instance, one death threat declared via Twitter had the user swearing about finding "Alex from Target" and killing him. Another unpleasant thing that surfaced from the teenager's fame is online bullying.

According to The Independent report, numerous people attacked the teenager online by calling him names, describing him as ugly and declaring that Alex does not deserve the fame he is receiving. Alex's father revealed as well that the family's personal information from their social security numbers, bank accounts and phone records got leaked online as part of the online users' attack against his now famous son.

"The biggest concern for myself and my wife is some of the negativity we're seeing online," Alex's father stated. The teenager's managers from Target revealed that Alex still has his job but he will be on stockroom duty for a while because stationing him at the registers only creates "too much of a ruckus" from his fangirls.

"Alex From Target" confessed that the attention he currently receives make him want to stay indoors most of the time. Alex's everyday life now involves teenage girls chasing him at work or at school for a chance to have a photograph taken with him as the latest Internet star. "I've been in the house the entire time. I'm kind of scared to go in public," Alex stated.

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