An Australian courtroom just delivered a mixed verdict in a high-profile legal battle involving British social media star Yung Filly. The 30-year-old entertainer, whose legal name is Andrés Felipe Valencia Barrientos, stood trial in the District Court of Western Australia over allegations stemming from a September 2024 encounter in Perth.
The jury acquitted him of three counts of sexual penetration without consent, along with charges related to choking and bodily harm. However, the legal nightmare isn't entirely over. He was found guilty of two counts of assault tied to biting, and the jury remained hung on three other sexual penetration charges, leaving open the possibility of a retrial. Meanwhile, you can find related developments here: The Invisible Current Running Through Our Taps.
Inside the Perth Courtroom
The trial lasted eight days and drew intense public scrutiny, partly due to the defendant's large digital footprint. Barrientos built a massive following across YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify, starring in mainstream British television projects like the BBC's celebrity Bake Off and the dating series Hot Property.
During the proceedings, jurors heard testimony detailing how Barrientos met a 20-year-old fan in the VIP section of a Perth nightclub following a music performance. The complainant testified that she viewed the entertainer as her idol, returning with him to his hotel room. To explore the bigger picture, we recommend the excellent report by BBC News.
What happened behind closed doors became the core point of contention. Prosecutors argued that an initial consensual encounter turned non-consensual and violent after the woman spotted the performer pointing his phone in her direction and questioned if he was recording her. The prosecution detailed allegations of choking, slapping, and aggressive biting that left open wounds and bruising.
The Defense and Testimony
Taking the stand in his own defense, Barrientos offered a starkly different account of the evening. He admitted that his security guard collected the woman's phone before entry, but maintained that this was standard privacy protocol for public figures.
Addressing the accusations of physical violence, the rapper acknowledged biting the woman multiple times during intercourse but characterized them as consensual "love bites" involving sucking and tongue movements. He testified that the woman did not cry, ask him to stop, or indicate that she was in pain.
The jury ultimately rejected parts of the prosecution's narrative, clearing him of multiple severe charges, including several counts of rape and the choking allegation. Yet, the guilty verdicts on two assault counts and the hung jury on three remaining sex offense counts mean the legal process will stretch further.
Next Legal Steps
Judge Linda Black presided over the trial, which also faced disruptions when some fans attempted to illegally record and post courtroom imagery on TikTok, resulting in localized bans from the main room.
Following the delivery of the verdicts, Barrientos remained out on bail. The court scheduled a return date for August 21 to determine whether prosecutors will pursue a retrial on the three deadlocked charges. Until then, the future of the entertainer's career and personal liberty hangs in the balance as the remaining legal hurdles are cleared.
