Yung Filly Faces Serious Charges in Perth Court

Yung Filly, the British rapper and YouTube personality, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, has been extradited from Queensland to Perth to face charges of sexual assault. The 29-year-old performer is accused of committing the offenses after a show at Bar1 in Hillarys on September 28.

Western Australian police have charged Barrientos with four counts of sexual penetration without consent, three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, and one count of impeding a person’s normal breathing by applying pressure to the neck of a woman in her 20s. The charges relate to an alleged incident in a hotel room following Barrientos’ performance.

Represented by barrister Seamus Rafferty SC, Barrientos made an appearance at the Perth Magistrates Court where he applied for bail. The prosecution, led by Julius Depetro, opposed the bail request citing concerns about the defendant’s extensive social media following, which exceeds eight million across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

Depetro argued that Barrientos’ status as a public figure with substantial financial resources poses a potential risk of witness interference and flight. He noted the accused’s lack of ties to Western Australia and his residence in the UK, originally hailing from Colombia, as factors increasing the risk of fleeing.

In response to the prosecution’s arguments, Rafferty maintained that Barrientos’ fame should not influence bail conditions differently, advocating for equal treatment under the law. He proposed a $100,000 surety coupled with protective measures, including a prohibition on social media posts concerning the case. However, Rafferty objected to a complete social media ban, arguing that Barrientos’ income is dependent on these platforms.

Magistrate Tanya Watt adjourned the hearing, deciding to review the bail application and reconvene later in the afternoon. The case remains ongoing, and Barrientos is yet to be proven guilty or innocent of the allegations.

The event prior to the allegations was marketed as an “ultimate evening escapade,” highlighting Barrientos’ popularity and influence in the entertainment industry. His career, which began with YouTube in 2013 and expanded to music in 2017, includes substantial online success and collaborations with notable artists such as Aitch.

Barrientos also has significant presence in mainstream media, having hosted multiple shows on the BBC network and appeared on Channel 4’s The Great Celebrity Bake Off. His social media influence is further extended by endorsements from brands like McDonald’s, Primark, and Captain Morgan rum.