Andres Barrientos, known as UK YouTuber Yung Filly, was found guilty of two counts of assault causing bodily harm in Perth, nearly two years after the incident. A jury acquitted him of three counts of sexual penetration without consent, but failed to reach a verdict on three additional rape charges, leaving open the possibility of a retrial. The 30-year-old rapper, whose social media videos have garnered millions of views and who has notched two UK Top 40 hits, wept as the verdict was delivered.
Barrientos has been unable to leave Australia without court permission since being charged in 2024 with the violent sexual assault of a 20-year-old woman. The incident occurred at an InterContinental hotel in Perth's CBD in September 2024, following a concert where he had been hosting a show at the Bar1 Nightclub. The woman, who cannot be identified, testified that she had consensual sex with Barrientos, whom she described as her "favourite celebrity" and "future husband," before the encounter turned violent.
The Cost of Celebrity
Prosecutor Danielle Clarke presented graphic photos of injuries to the woman's face and neck, which she stated Barrientos inflicted. Clarke argued that if the jury was satisfied the swelling or bruising was caused by slaps, then any subsequent sex was non-consensual. She told the jury Barrientos "did exactly what he wanted, how he wanted, when he wanted" and that "She meant absolutely nothing to him." The defense, led by lawyer David Edwardson, suggested the police investigation lacked impartiality. Edwardson told the jury that "acts of sexual violence did not happen" and asserted that sex with groupies on tour was "a fact of life." He further suggested the woman's allegations stemmed from her high expectations, having once considered a "David and Victoria Beckham future" with her "idol." "Hopes pitched that high have a long way to fall," Edwardson stated, adding, "Andres Barrientos was not her knight in shining armour." This framing implicitly normalizes the power dynamic inherent in celebrity culture, where the accumulated cultural capital of an entertainer is leveraged against the aspirations of a fan.
The State's Order
During the eight-day trial, the court took measures to control public interaction with the proceedings. Judge Linda Black ordered the removal of a social media video recorded through a courtroom window and subsequently had the window papered over. Access to the courtroom was restricted to lawyers, court security, family members, accredited media, and a counsel-provided list. Judge Black also publicly admonished individuals supporting Yung Filly outside the courthouse, calling them "idiots outside carrying placards" who had no respect for the court. She instructed the jury to "Treat them with the disdain they deserve." Edwardson acknowledged these supporters were not helping his client, and a fight later broke out outside the courthouse. The public viewing room for proceedings was eventually closed by judicial order, underscoring the state's efforts to manage public sentiment and maintain the perceived neutrality of its legal apparatus.
Barrientos is due to return to court next month for sentencing on the assault charges, which relate to him biting the woman's cheek, neck, and breast. The unresolved rape charges leave the victim in a state of continued uncertainty, with state prosecutors yet to decide on a potential retrial. The legal system, in this instance, has delivered a partial verdict, leaving significant questions unanswered regarding the full extent of the violence and the systemic issues of consent within power imbalances.