UK rapper Yung Filly, whose birth name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, sat at the witness stand in the District Court of Western Australia on Monday, a week after the start of his trial over rape accusations that stem from a nightclub performance in Perth’s coastal suburb of Hillarys.
The 30‑year‑old denies having touched the 20‑year‑old woman in a sexual or assaultive way. He stated the "vibes were good" between them after the concert, noting he had put his hand on her waist but had not penetrated or physically abused her.
The court heard that the pair had reportedly shared consensual sex earlier before an alleged escalation. Filly’s account included that his security guard removed the victim’s phone – a move he called a “standard practice” to protect privacy.
Barrientos faces six counts of sexual penetration, three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, and one count of strangulation. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Yung Filly, known for his work with YouTube collective Beta Squad and appearances on the celebrity version of Bake Off, has a media presence that includes 1.8 million YouTube subscribers, 3 million TikTok followers and 2.4 million Instagram fans.
He was granted bail after being charged and was allowed to leave for the UK in September, returning to Western Australia ahead of the trial. The ongoing proceedings are poised to determine whether the accusations will lead to criminal conviction.
