Sabrina Carpenter gets restraining order against alleged stalker after 'disturbing violations'

A month of surveillance before a violent trespass

Sabrina Carpenter has been granted a restraining order against an alleged stalker, a development that puts a spotlight on the very real safety risks faced by high-profile artists. According to Billboard, a judge signed the temporary order on May 29, requiring 31-year-old William Applegate to stay at least 100 yards from Carpenter and her Los Angeles home. A full hearing is scheduled for June 17 to determine whether the injunction becomes permanent.

Carpenter filed the petition the same day, stating that Applegate, described as "a complete stranger," began surveilling her home in April. The situation escalated steadily over the following weeks.

The incident on May 23

The alleged conduct reached a turning point on May 23, when Applegate reportedly circumvented Carpenter's security fencing and tried to push his way through her front door. The incident was captured on Ring camera footage. He allegedly claimed to know Carpenter and refused to leave when confronted by her security guards. The Los Angeles Police Department arrested him, but he was booked on suspicion of a misdemeanor and released.

He returned to the property twice more in the two days that followed, at one point watching from his car for at least two hours.

Carpenter's own words

In her declaration, Carpenter described the psychological toll in direct terms. "His act of physically attempting to open and enter my front door, without invitation, consent or any lawful basis is among the most disturbing violations of personal safety and privacy I have ever experienced," she wrote.

She also addressed the fixation directly: "His delusional insistence that he knows me and was expected by me is indicative of a dangerous, delusional and irrational fixation on me."

LAPD detective Peter Doomanis supported the petition with his own declaration, writing that in his professional opinion Applegate "has developed a disturbing and irrational fixation" on the singer. Doomanis also noted that Applegate's conduct has been referred to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office for possible criminal charges.

What comes next

The June 17 hearing will decide whether the restraining order becomes permanent. Carpenter is one of the most visible pop artists working right now, and the case is a reminder that artists at her level face security threats that rarely make it into public view until they reach a courtroom. How the City Attorney's Office proceeds on potential criminal charges will be the next significant development to watch.