Singer and social media personality Nezza (Vanessa Hernández) sparked controversy Saturday night at Dodger Stadium by performing the United States national anthem in Spanish, directly defying explicit instructions from Dodgers officials to sing in English, the New York Post reports. The performance, which Nezza posted on TikTok, came against the backdrop of riots in Los Angeles against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Nezza’s performance has polarized audiences. While she frames the act as a stand for inclusion and immigrant rights, critics contend it was a self-serving gesture that disregarded the wishes of the event organizers and the broader expectations of the sporting public.
According to The Post, prior to the game against the San Francisco Giants, a Dodgers employee was recorded telling Nezza, “We are going to do the song in English today, so I’m not sure if that wasn’t relayed.” Despite this, Nezza, wearing a Dominican Republic shirt, proceeded with the Spanish rendition, “El Pendón Estrellado,” on the field. She later admitted on social media, “So I did it anyway,” framing her decision as an act of solidarity with the immigrant community and those protesting ICE.
Nezza justified her actions by citing the official status of the Spanish version, which was commissioned in 1945 by the U.S. State Department, and by referencing the current unrest in Los Angeles. She said, “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. “And I’ve sang the national anthem many times in my life. But today out of all days, I could not. I’m sorry. I just could not believe when she [the Dodgers employee] walked in and told me ‘no.’ But I just felt like I needed to do it para mi gente [for my people].”
The Dodgers organization has not issued an official comment on the incident, but reports indicate that Nezza is not banned from the stadium. Public reaction has been mixed, with some applauding her stand for immigrant rights, while others see her actions as disrespectful to the team and the tradition of performing the anthem in English at major sporting events.
Critics argue, however, that Nezza’s move was less about unity and more about personal grandstanding. By disregarding the team’s explicit instructions and using a high-profile sports event as a platform for political protest, they say she put her own agenda ahead of the organization’s wishes and respect for the tradition.