British YouTube star and rapper Yung Filly has been charged with reckless driving in Australia while on bail for allegedly raping and suffocating a woman in a hotel room.
Filly, real name Andrés Felipe Valencia Barrientos, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s at his Perth hotel on September 28 after a nightclub performance.
The 29-year-old was arrested in Brisbane and extradited to Perth, where he made his first court appearance on October 10.
The London rapper and BBC star, who has 1.8 million subscribers on YouTube and millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok, faces a series of charges.
These include four counts of sexual penetration without consent and three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.
He is also accused of impeding the woman’s breathing or circulation by applying pressure to her neck.
Filly was granted conditional bail which states he must remain in Western Australia and report to police daily. He also had to post a personal cash guarantee of $100,000 (£51,438.05).
But while out on bail, the YouTuber has now also been charged with careless driving after allegedly driving from 158 km/h (98 mph) to 100 km/h (62 mph) on a Perth highway on November 17, local Australian media report.
Yung Filly appeared in court charged with rape and assault in Perth, Western Australia, in October.
Barrientos is among many ‘content creators’ who have made a name for themselves by amassing an online following, making money from video advertising revenue, and collaborations with brands.
The 29-year-old YouTube star must report to police daily while on bail in Western Australia.
According to The Canberra Times, Filly’s vehicle has been impounded and he is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court next Thursday.
Barrientos, who rose to fame on YouTube before landing a series of presenting jobs at the BBC, has been dropped by several brands in light of the sexual assault charges, including the FA, Footasylum and German Doner Kebab.
He had traveled to Australia to perform at a series of concerts, had just released a new single titled ‘Tempted’ and performed at Perth nightclub Bar1 on 27 September.
The event had been promoted as a “perfect blend of spontaneity, humor and music that will keep you talking for weeks.”
He is alleged to have carried out the attack at his hotel after the performance in the early hours of September 28.
Police say they have an “extremely strong” prosecution case backed by CCTV and photographic evidence. The photographs were not shown in court.
However, prosecutor Julius Depetro said its alleged contents described a “history of violent acts”, adding: “No ordinary person can give consent in such circumstances.”
The YouTuber has now also been charged with careless driving after allegedly driving from 158 km/h (98 mph) to 100 km/h (62 mph) on a Perth highway on November 17.
After leaving school with four GCSEs, he began posting comedy sketches online himself, which led to work as a television presenter (he appears on The Great Celebrity Bake Off in 2022).
Yung Filly is among the legions of ‘content creators’ who have made a name for themselves by amassing a large online following and making money from video advertising revenue and brand collaborations.
Born in Colombia, he moved to the UK at the age of two with his single mother and two brothers.
After leaving school with four GCSEs and trying his hand at working as a runner, he began posting comedy sketches online himself and with collaborators, which led to jobs as a TV presenter and the start of a music career.
The rapper’s rapid rise to fame led to him landing his own BBC show called Hot Property in 2019.
And he also appeared on Soccer Aid on ITV and Channel 4’s The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer.
Barrientos is due back in court in Perth in December on sexual assault charges.