My TikTok-famous alligator is being held ‘hostage,’ man claims

He’s trying to gator back.

Joshua Applebaum, 40 and a Michigan resident, is known on TikTok for showcasing his 4-foot pet alligator, Karen, and has almost 300,000 followers between two accounts.

He now claims that Karen is currently being held “hostage” by an animal rescue center. 

After being involved in a high-speed police chase for speeding, Applebaum was pulled over by deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office who were shocked to find Karen in his passenger seat, according to Fox 2.

“The passenger, ‘Karen’ the alligator, attempted to flee the scene but was taken into custody after a short scuffle,” the department said on Facebook.

Karen was handed over to Cicchelli Second Chance Rescue and Exotics, but Applebaum now wants her back after making bail following his arrest.

Currently the rescue center is still housing the reptile.

“I do not have Karen in my custody. She’s being held hostage at this point,” Applebaum told Fox 2.

April Cicchelli, who runs the rescue, said that Applebaum is not capable of providing Karen with proper care. 

“I have no care in the world that she is TikTok famous,” Cicchelli told Fox 2. “She is in our large gator exhibit with three other alligators.”

When discussing Applebaum’s behavior she mentioned, “He started showing aggressive behavior, disrespectful behavior to us and our facility. We are not willing to mistakenly put one of our alligators in a homeless situation, running from police, living in a car.”

Both parties have expressed a willingness to take their dispute to civil court.