In brief
In the western Australian District Court, rapper Yung Filly testified that his relationship with a 20‑year‑old woman, whom he is accused of raping, began positively and that the ‘vibes were good’ when they later met in his hotel room. He denies any sexual misconduct, claiming he only ‘fancied’ the woman and touched her waist without crossing any boundaries. The charges include six counts of sexual penetration without consent, three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, and one count of strangulation. Yung Filly, a beloved YouTube personality with millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram, was granted bail and a brief period to return to the UK before re‑entering Western Australia for the trial. The case draws attention to how celebrity status intersects with criminal proceedings in Australia.
London, United Kingdom – The court in Western Australia heard UK rapper Yung Filly speak about his encounter with a 20‑year‑old woman whom he is charged with raping after a hotel stay in Perth. In what has become a headline‑making case, the artist claimed that the couple “felt” the vibe was positive and that they had a consensual relationship before a confrontation turned violent.
The rapper – whose legal name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos – gave testimony on Monday in the District Court, a week after the trial began. Prosecutors are suing him on six counts of sexual penetration without consent, three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of strangulation. Barrientos has appealed a not‑guilty verdict and remains on bail, returning to the UK for a brief period in September prior to the trial.
During the interrogation, Barrientos admitted “to fanci[ng] the woman” when they first met at a night‑club in Hillarys, a suburb of Perth. He also recalled placing a hand over her waist but insisted no inappropriate contact ever occurred. “I recall putting my hand on her waist,” he told the judge, adding that he did not touch her beneath her clothing or breasts.
The rapper told the court that once they arrived at his hotel, the “vibes were good”, and that his security guard took the woman's phone as standard practice to safeguard privacy. Hearing had revealed that the couple had previously had consensual sex before the violent episode that led the woman to ask him to stop.
Yung Filly, who has a large following across social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, gained initial fame through his clips with the Beta Squad collective. In addition to this, he starred in a celebrity edition of Bake Off on Channel 4, and has presented shows for BBC Three. The controversy has highlighted the reach and influence of social media celebrities, and the legal ramifications when public personas confront criminal allegations.
He has been denied custodial detention but is required to appear for further court dates. The case is expected to continue until the final verdict is announced, with scrutiny of how an international musician's conduct during a performance tour intersects with local law enforcement and judicial processes in Western Australia.
