PERTH – In a significant legal proceeding, a British entertainer known as Yung Filly is currently on trial in Australia. The performer, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, faces serious charges, including rape and choking a fan after a music performance two years ago.
Barrientos, aged 30, has pleaded not guilty to six counts of rape, three counts of assault causing bodily harm, and one count of choking. The alleged incident took place in a hotel room in Perth in September 2024, following a performance where he captivated audiences.
The accuser, who is legally protected from being named, was just 20 years old at the time of the incident. Prosecutor Danielle Clarke described Barrientos as an “entitled man” with a “moderate degree of fame” who allegedly committed acts of sexual violence against a young woman who was “impressionable.”
“She meant nothing to him,” Clarke stated during her closing arguments, emphasizing that what began as a consensual interaction quickly turned into a non-consensual situation filled with violence.
The jury is expected to begin deliberating on the case soon, following the defense’s closing statements. Barrientos testified that he did not slap or choke the woman, but admitted to biting her multiple times, referring to it as a “love bite.”
“In England, we would call it a love bite,” he explained in court, denying that the woman had told him to stop or that he was hurting her. He claimed that they were engaging in kissing and playful biting, suggesting it was consensual.
Photos presented in court showed the woman with bruises and bite marks, raising questions about the nature of their interaction. The prosecution argued that while she initially consented to sex, she later withdrew her consent when she felt unsafe.
Notably, Barrientos acknowledged that his bodyguard took the woman’s phone before she entered the hotel room but denied any malicious intent behind this action. He claimed that it is common practice for public figures to protect their privacy.
This case has attracted significant media attention, considering the serious nature of the allegations and the profile of the accused. Barrientos, originally from Colombia, had been touring Australia and performing in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne before his arrest in Brisbane, where the tour was set to conclude.
As the trial progresses, the outcomes of this case could have far-reaching implications not only for Barrientos but also for discussions around consent, celebrity culture, and accountability in the entertainment industry.
