Latin R&B singer Nezza created quite a stir before a recent Los Angeles Dodgers game by singing "The Star Spangled Banner" in Spanish, despite being advised against it. The 30-year-old artist, whose full name is Vanessa Hernández, took to TikTok to share her experience, which has since garnered nearly 8 million views.
In her video, Nezza expressed her support for her community, stating, “para mi gente [for my people]; I stand with you.” She also highlighted the irony of being told not to perform the anthem in Spanish, pointing out that the version she sang was officially commissioned by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1945.
The video showed her wearing a Dominican Republic jersey and smiling until a team representative informed her that the anthem would be sung in English. Nezza’s reaction was one of surprise, but she decided to sing in Spanish anyway, stating in the video, “so I did it anyway.”
In a follow-up TikTok posted later that night, Nezza was emotional as she reflected on the incident. She mentioned feeling shaken and explained her motivation for singing in Spanish, emphasizing her pride in her immigrant parents. She expressed concern about the impact of policies like those enforced by ICE, which deport individuals living in the country without documentation.
On Sunday, a Dodgers official clarified that there would be no repercussions for Nezza’s performance and that she would be welcomed back to the stadium. The event sparked mixed reactions online, with some viewers criticizing her actions as disrespectful, while others supported her stance.
Nezza’s decision to sing the anthem in Spanish was a personal and emotional choice, rooted in her experiences and the experiences of her family. It brought attention to broader discussions about immigration and cultural representation in the United States.