The 29-year-old founder of 'Hater,' one of the hottest new dating apps, says he's gotten death threats after a big marketing stunt in New York City

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Brendan Alper Hater

Hater

Brendan Alper, founder and CEO of Hater

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Brendan Alper's mom isn't very happy with him right now.

The 29-year-old founder of Hater, a dating app that connects people based on mutual dislikes, recently took something of a risk: His company created an image of Russian President Vladimir Putin caressing a pregnant Donald Trump and projected it on buildings throughout New York City.

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The advertisement got some laughs, but it also inspired internet backlash. Alper has a handful of death threats sitting in his Facebook inbox, and has decided against heading to an upcoming tech conference in Moscow, Russia.

Putin Trump Hater app

Hater

On Valentine's Day 2017, Hater projected this image in New York City at 14th Street and Eighth Avenue, on the side of a CVS.

"We got invited a little while ago, right when this started to blow up," Alper told Business Insider. "We were really excited about it - this was before we got any press - and it was a big deal. But I don't think we're going to go now, because we're just a little nervous, which is crazy that I have to make decisions like that. My mom wasn't happy about this whole thing, I'll tell you that."

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But Alper mostly laughs off the internet backlash and the concerns that Russia might be displeased with his company's handiwork.

After all, stirring the pot and sparking conversation is the whole point of Hater.