A 20-year-old woman's allegations of sexual violence against a British entertainer with millions of followers moved to jury deliberation Tuesday after prosecutors described a "non-consensual nightmare" in a Perth hotel room. Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, 30, known professionally as Yung Filly, faces six charges of rape, three charges of assault occasioning bodily harm, and one count of choking stemming from a September 2024 encounter following his music performance.
Prosecutor Danielle Clarke told the District Court of Western Australia that Barrientos was an "entitled man" with a "moderate degree of fame" who had been sexually violent toward an "impressionable" young woman. "She meant nothing to him," Clarke said in closing arguments. "What could have been and should have been consensual sex quickly escalated into sexual violence and a non-consensual nightmare."
The Accuser's Account
The woman, who cannot be legally named, met Barrientos at a Perth nightclub after his performance. Prosecutors said she initially agreed to have sex with the entertainer but withdrew her consent when she started to fear for her safety. Photos shown to the court depicted bruising and bite marks on her face and neck. Barrientos's bodyguard took the woman's phone before she entered the hotel room, according to testimony the entertainer confirmed.
Defense Claims "Love Bites"
Barrientos testified Monday that he didn't slap or choke the woman, though he agreed to allegations that he bit her multiple times. "In England we would call it a love bite," he told the court. He denied that the woman repeatedly told him to stop and said he was hurting her. "There was kissing in between; I would give her a love bite and then kiss her," Barrientos said from the witness box. "I don't recall any blood."
The Colombian-born entertainer described the initial encounter positively. "The vibes were good and she had a really good energy about her," he said. He denied prosecutors' accusation that her phone was removed to trap her, calling it "standard practice for someone in the limelight to protect privacy."
Arrest After Tour Performances
Barrientos had been touring Australia and performed in Sydney and Melbourne before the Perth encounter. He was arrested several days later in Brisbane, where the tour was scheduled to end. The jury is expected to begin deliberations Wednesday after defense lawyers finish their closing statements.
Why This Matters:
This case highlights the power dynamics that can emerge when fans encounter celebrities, particularly when fame provides access and influence that can be weaponized. The removal of the woman's phone before entering the hotel room—whether standard security practice or a means of control—illustrates how celebrity status can create environments where consent becomes complicated and accountability difficult. The prosecutor's characterization of an "entitled" man with fame treating a young woman as if "she meant nothing" speaks to broader patterns of how power imbalances facilitate sexual violence. For the entertainment industry, which increasingly relies on social media personalities with massive followings but limited institutional oversight, the verdict will test whether fame provides immunity or whether legal systems can hold influencers accountable for alleged violence against fans who admire them.