Sabrina Carpenter Takes Legal Action After Nightmarish Encounters With a Stranger Who Refused to Leave Her Property
The dark side of fame.
Sabrina Carpenter just secured a temporary restraining order against a stalker she says showed up at her home, tried to force his way inside, and refused to leave even after police arrested him. The pop star’s legal team filed the paperwork on May 29, 2026, after William Applegate, 31, allegedly returned to her Los Angeles property less than 24 hours after his initial arrest, sparking a second police response and leaving Carpenter shaken enough to seek court protection.
The drama started on May 23 when Applegate appeared at Carpenter’s front door unannounced, per TMZ. According to court documents, he tried to open the door and rang the doorbell multiple times. When security confronted him, he allegedly claimed to know Carpenter and insisted she was expecting him, a statement Carpenter calls “outrageous and entirely false.”
She says she has never met or communicated with Applegate in any way. The standoff ended only when police arrived and arrested him on suspicion of trespassing, but the nightmare wasn’t over. Carpenter claims Applegate returned the very next day, May 24, and again on May 25, each time forcing security to call police to get him to leave.
Carpenter’s declaration paints a disturbing picture of escalating behavior
According to NBC News, the singer says Applegate has been surveilling her property since at least late April, parking his Toyota Prius nearby. Security footage from her Ring camera shows a man at her doorstep, and Carpenter describes his approach as “deliberate, calculated, and aggressive.”
The restraining order, granted on June 1, requires Applegate to stay at least 100 yards away from Carpenter, her sister Sarah, and Sarah’s boyfriend, George. It also covers her workplace and vehicle, barring him from any form of contact, harassment, or stalking.
The legal filings include a declaration from a Los Angeles police detective who specializes in threat management. The detective describes Applegate’s behavior as a “disturbing and irrational fixation” on Carpenter and notes that he struck a security guard during the May 23 incident. The detective’s statement supports Carpenter’s claim that Applegate’s actions have caused her “severe and ongoing emotional distress.”
The police department has submitted the case to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office to determine whether criminal charges, including trespassing, should be filed. A hearing is scheduled for June 18 to decide if the temporary restraining order will become permanent.
Carpenter’s team isn’t taking any chances
Her declaration makes it clear she wants nothing to do with Applegate, writing, “I have no desire to meet him or communicate with him.” The court documents reveal that security personnel reviewed footage and determined Applegate had been parking near her home and getting progressively closer since around April 20, a pattern that Carpenter says left her feeling increasingly unsafe.
The situation took a turn for the worse when Applegate allegedly returned to the neighborhood after his arrest. Carpenter says he parked his car nearby, reclined the seat to avoid being seen, and conducted what she describes as “deliberate surveillance.” She claims he left only when police arrived, but his persistence has left her deeply unsettled.
In her declaration, she calls his behavior “delusional” and warns that his fixation on her is both dangerous and irrational. The restraining order is a clear signal that Carpenter is taking the threat seriously, and the upcoming hearing will determine whether the protections will remain in place long-term.
For now, Carpenter is relying on the legal system to keep Applegate at bay
The temporary restraining order is a critical first step, but the June 18 hearing will be the real test of whether the court agrees that his behavior warrants a permanent solution. The detective’s declaration suggests that law enforcement is taking the case seriously, and the submission of evidence to the City Attorney’s Office means criminal charges could still be on the table.
Carpenter’s experience highlights the darker side of fame, where public visibility can sometimes attract unwanted and dangerous fixations. The restraining order is a tool to keep her safe, but the emotional toll of dealing with a stranger who refuses to respect boundaries is something no one should have to endure. For now, she’s leaning on security, legal protections, and the hope that the system will work in her favor.
The Ring camera footage and police reports will play a key role in the upcoming hearing, and if the judge agrees with Carpenter’s assessment, Applegate could find himself facing more than just a restraining order.
(Featured image: Raph_PH)
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