Stalker Tries to Friend Mark Zuckerberg in Real Life; Police Unfriend Him

  • Share
  • Read Later
Robert Galbraith / Reuters

We thought stalkers went after hot celebrities, not nerdy, awkward, billionaire Internet types.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg obtained a restraining order against Pradeep Manukonda, 31, who allegedly followed Zuckerberg, showed up at his home and at the Facebook offices in Palo Alto, Calif., and sent him flowers and a hand-written letter.

(More on TIME.com: See a profile of Mark Zuckerberg, TIME’s Person of the Year in 2010.)

In a Facebook-message rant by Manukonda, obtained by TMZ.com, he writes, “Please respond in time … before it get too late for us … I owe entire my life at your service .. please help me, then I am ready to die for you.” See Mark, he just wants to martyr himself for you – why the worry? And NewsFeed thought you championed an open society.

In all seriousness, the restraining order bars Manukonda from getting within 300 yards of Zuckerberg, his sister, Randi, and his girlfriend, Priscilla Chan. Moral of this story: Facebook lets us stalk people online, but let’s not take it this far.

(More on TIME.com: See pictures of Mark Zuckerberg)