Singer and influencer Nezza stirred controversy at Dodger Stadium on Saturday when she sang the national anthem in Spanish—despite being told to perform it in English.
Ahead of the Dodgers’ 11-5 win over the Giants, the 30-year-old singer, whose full name is Vanessa Hernández, posted a TikTok revealing that a Dodgers employee had instructed her to sing the anthem in English. “We are going to do the song in English today, so I’m not sure if that wasn’t relayed,” the employee says in the clip. But in the next frame, Nezza is seen performing in Spanish, with a bold caption: “So I did it anyway.”
Related posts
In a follow-up video, an emotional Nezza explained why she chose to defy the team’s request. She said she wanted to sing in Spanish in solidarity with the Latino community following recent ICE raids in Los Angeles. She also pointed out that the Spanish version of the anthem she performed was commissioned by the U.S. State Department in 1945 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to strengthen ties with Latin America.
“I didn’t think I would be met with any sort of no, especially because we’re in LA and with everything happening,” she said tearfully. “Today, out of all days, I could not. I’m sorry. I just could not believe when she walked in and told me ‘no.’ But I just felt like I needed to do it para mi gente—for my people.”
Nezza shared that her parents are immigrants who became U.S. citizens long ago, and her actions were deeply personal. “I’m proud of myself for doing that today,” she said. “I can’t imagine being ripped away from my parents at this age, let alone as a child.”
The Dodgers have not released a public statement about the incident. However, a team official told the Los Angeles Times that there would be no consequences for Nezza’s performance and that she would be welcome to return in the future.
While the organization has remained largely silent on the ICE raids, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts briefly addressed the issue, saying, “I know that when you’re having to bring people in and deport people, all the unrest, it’s certainly unsettling for everyone. But I haven’t dug enough and can’t speak intelligently on it.”
Nezza, who attended a recent “Mission: Impossible” screening in Los Angeles, ended her message to fans with love and support: “Stay safe out there. I love you guys.”
