PERTH, Australia — Lawyers concluded closing statements Tuesday in the Australian trial of British entertainer Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, known as Yung Filly. The charges allege he raped and choked a fan in a Perth hotel room two years ago, in September 2024. Barrientos, 30, has pleaded not guilty in the District Court of Western Australia state to six charges of rape, three charges of assault occasioning bodily harm, and one count of choking.
The Accuser's Account and Power Imbalance
The accuser, who cannot be legally named, was 20 years old at the time of the alleged incident. Prosecutor Danielle Clarke told the court 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 stated in her closing arguments. The prosecutor emphasized that what began as potentially consensual sex quickly escalated into “sexual violence and a non-consensual nightmare.”
Barrientos met the woman at a Perth nightclub following his performance. He described the initial encounter, stating, “The vibes were good and she had a really good energy about her.” Prosecutors previously detailed that the woman initially agreed to have sex with Barrientos but later withdrew her consent when she began to fear for her safety. This shift highlights the critical importance of ongoing consent, a concept often obscured by power dynamics inherent in celebrity interactions.
Protecting Capital and Image
Barrientos testified Monday, denying he slapped or choked the woman. He did, however, agree to the allegation that he bit her multiple times. “In England we would call it a love bite,” Barrientos told the court, dismissing the severity. He further denied the woman repeatedly told him to stop or that he was hurting her, stating, “There was kissing in between; I would give her a love bite and then kiss her.” He added, “I don’t recall any blood,” despite photos of the woman showing bruising and bite marks on her face and neck presented to the court.
Before the woman entered the hotel room, Barrientos’s bodyguard took her phone. Barrientos confirmed this action but denied the prosecutor’s accusation that the phone was removed to trap the woman. He justified the action by claiming, “It is standard practice for someone in the limelight to protect privacy.” This practice reveals how those who profit from public attention also employ measures to control narratives and protect their commercial image, often at the expense of others’ autonomy and safety.
The State's Limited Intervention
The Colombian-born entertainer had been touring Australia, performing in Sydney and Melbourne, before the encounter in Perth. He was arrested several days later in Brisbane, where his tour was scheduled to conclude. The jury is expected to begin considering their verdicts Wednesday after defense lawyers complete their closing statements. While the legal system processes individual cases of alleged violence, it often fails to address the underlying systemic issues of celebrity power, gendered violence, and the exploitation of fan devotion that contribute to such incidents.