Latest news with #VanessaHernandez
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Dodgers told me not to sing the national anthem in Spanish. I knew in my heart that I had to.
Normally, the performance of the national anthem at a baseball game isn't major news. When the pop singer Nezza arrived at the Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on June 14, she was excited to perform the song in front of the crowd, then grab a hot dog and a Michelada and chill in the stands to watch the game. What happened instead knocked the wind out of her — and later made headlines nationwide. Given the audience demographics at the game and the ICE raids that have rocked Los Angeles, Nezza (whose full name is Vanessa Hernández) planned to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" in Spanish to uplift the Latino community and honor the protests on "No Kings Day." She even practiced the version commissioned by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945 to ensure that her performance was respectful. But as fans later saw in a viral video, the team told her on the day of her performance that it had other plans. She'd need to perform the anthem in English. Devastated, Nezza was faced with a choice: follow orders or raise her voice. She chose the latter. In doing so, she hopes she has inspired others to stand up and speak out. In an interview with Yahoo's Laura Bradley, the singer shares why she made the decision she did — and why she doesn't consider it an act of rebellion but a gesture of love. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Until that day, I'd never been involved in anything political. I'd never broken a rule in my life. But when a Dodgers rep told me I'd be singing the national anthem in English, I couldn't breathe. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. Immediately, I was clenching my teeth from crying. About a month prior, my manager had asked if I wanted to perform the anthem at the Dodgers game. I was already scheduled to sing for the A's, which felt really cool because they're one of my hometown teams. So I agreed to perform on June 14. At that time, I was unaware of what would lead up to that day in Los Angeles: ICE raids, protests and, eventually, the National Guard. Both of my parents are immigrants who are now U.S. citizens. Watching those videos we've seen of families being ripped apart is gut-wrenching. I can't imagine my parents getting ripped away from me. Where would I be today had they not come over here and had that struggle in the beginning? I'd planned to sing in Spanglish at the Dodgers game until my friend pointed out a few days before that I would be performing on "No Kings Day." Eighty percent of the people in the stands would be Latino. There was no way I could go out there and sing the anthem fully in English on that day of all days. So I stayed up all night for two days straight learning the whole version of 'El Pendón Estrellado,' the Spanish-language version of the national anthem that President Franklin D. Roosevelt commissioned in 1945. It wasn't meant to be disrespectful because the lyrics and the storyline are near the same, the melodies are the same. It was supposed to be an uplifting gesture for my community. I thought I was fully welcome to do this. In our emails leading up to my performance, no one with the Dodgers had told me I couldn't sing in Spanish. When I'd suggested I sing the national anthem in both languages, they only said I would have just 90 seconds — not enough time to sing two songs. No one previously ever said, 'We'd prefer you to do it in English.' It could have been such an easy, simple email. But obviously now, knowing everything I do, I know they were avoiding the topic. When they said I had to sing in English, I just honestly couldn't believe it. Everyone could see it in my face. It was pure shock. The only reason we captured that moment on video is because my boyfriend was filming my sound check, and he happened to still be standing there recording when the Dodgers rep walked in. When I told her I wasn't comfortable performing in English, she walked away to give us some private time to discuss. I bawled my eyes out. There was no way I was doing it in English. I asked my manager, 'Do I leave? Do I walk out?' He supported me to do whatever I needed to do to support my community. My boyfriend agreed, but he also told me something else: You're gonna regret it for the rest of your life if you don't do this today. He was right. So I sucked in the tears. When the rep came back about an hour before my performance, she made sure I sang the whole song in English. Then, I think I spent literally 45 minutes in the bathroom stall — shaking, freaking out, just trying to gain the confidence to do what I needed to do. Because again, none of this is me. It's not my personality at all. I hate getting into trouble. It's my worst fear. When I got onto the field and sang in Spanish, I didn't feel rebellious. I was singing from a place of heartbreak, from a place of oppression. I don't know how I got myself to do it, because I've never done anything like that in my life. I just felt this fire from being told no. But it was a different kind of no. It wasn't like your parents saying, 'No, you can't have a cookie.' This was about something deep and personal, not just to me, but to most of the crowd in the stands that day. What reality are we living in where kids are being ripped away from their parents? When some people watch the video I posted of my Dodgers experience on TikTok, they say, 'Oh, she's crying because she got banned.' (Nezza has said the Dodgers told her she was not welcome back at the stadium following her performance. The Dodgers have stated publicly that Nezza is not banned from the stadium.) That's not it. I'm crying because I'm imagining my parents being ripped away from me at such a young age. At the end of the day, I was fighting for my parents. Everything I have in life is because of them. When we had nothing — like, nothing — somehow they were pulling pennies for my dance classes. It was already hard enough to come over here with nothing, and getting papers was really hard. I want them not to worry about anything anymore. As much as I really, truly love being on a stage and songwriting and doing it all, it's for them. It's to give my mom her dream car, her dream house. Because they deserve it. They've worked so hard. As I was singing, I didn't know what the reaction was going to be because my in-ear monitors were in. I did not expect anything from this. Of course, my friends and family were there and calling and supportive, but so were celebrities like Kehlani, Becky G, George Lopez and [Los Angeles City] Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. It was just as aggressive a response from the right side, but the love outweighed the hate. Morals are morals, and empathy is empathy. I have a lot of friends who are on the right side of the aisle politically, but they also realize that what's happening right now is wrong. Human beings are being caged up like animals, and that's not what God intended for us. I've loved seeing the people that I idolize stand up for what's right, and they're not getting backlash, and I hope that other artists feel like they can raise their voices too. A lot of families are undocumented, so I get the fear of not wanting to speak up. But I hope that younger generations really acknowledge that this country was built on immigrants, aka our parents. We've got to stand up right now. Looking at what I did and the outcome, I hope they see that the Latin community has our back, period. I know everyone who has had my back will also have their back.
Fox News
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Controversial national anthem singer at Dodgers game says she's received death threats
Vanessa Hernández, known by her stage name Nezza, sang a Spanish rendition of the United States' national anthem at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night, and she claimed the team wished she did not. Now, the singer is saying she has since received death threats for her performance. Nezza, wearing a Dominican Republic shirt while performing, posted a video on TikTok of a team employee telling her, "We are going to do the song in English today." Nezza decided to sing the Spanish version anyway, saying in a later TikTok video that it was in response to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in Los Angeles that has led to protests and unrest in the city. She said the backlash she has received has been harmful. "That's just the internet. That's going to come with something like that. Anything that involves politics is going to include a death threat here and there," Nezza said to TMZ Sports. "The main thing I've seen seeing is that it's disrespectful. I don't think it's disrespectful, because the lyrics are still the same exact lyrics as the English version. If both songs were made into a music video, it'd be the exact music video. "I'm a proud American. I was born here, raised here, my dreams came true here in L.A. I think being a proud American and still wanting better for your country can still be the same truth, and I think people are forgetting that." Nezza said she has also received support from celebrities in the Latin community, which "outweighs" the hate. "It's been really sweet to see people you idolize be on the right side of history…" she said. "I already knew in my heart what I did was right, but this just triple-confirms it." In the aforementioned TikTok, Nezza said she "just felt like I needed to" sing the Spanish version - but now she does "not feel welcome back" at Dodger Stadium. Other Los Angeles-based professional sports teams have taken a stance, including the NWSL's Angely City F.C., which gave fans "Immigrant City Football Club" T-shirts at their game on Saturday. Players were also seen warming up with the t-shirts on before their match to show support for those protesting. Nezza's Spanish rendition of the anthem came on the day of numerous "No Kings" protests, which were against the military parade in Washington, D.C., that coincided with President Donald Trump's birthday, across the country. Trump's birthday was also the 250th birthday celebration of the United States Army. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
National anthem singer reveals true extent of fury at her incendiary ICE protest before Dodgers game
Singer Vanessa Hernandez has revealed she has received death threats following her ICE protest at a Los Angeles Dodgers game last week. The 30-year-old, known by her stage name Nezza, defied orders from the Dodgers to sing a Spanish rendition of the American national anthem before Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants. The Dominican singer claimed they tried to stop her performing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish, before she did it anyway as a show of solidarity with ICE protestors in the city. Nezza executed the poignant tribute against the Dodgers' wishes on the day of 'No Kings' protests across the US over Donald Trump 's controversial immigration policies, which came after a week of unrest in LA. She has now told TMZ that online trolls have sent her death threats but she stands by her decision to sing in Spanish and is adamant she's 'on the right side of history'. Nezza also revealed that George Lopez, Becky G and other musicians had reached out to offer their support. She said: 'I have received quite the backlash but it's been way more positive and love so that kind of outweighs that. I already knew in my heart that what I did was right but this triple confirms it for me. 'The death threats are one things but that's just the internet. I'm taking that as that is going to come from something like this. Anything that involves politics is going to involve a death threat. 'The main thing I have been seeing is that it was "disrespectful". I don't think it was because the lyrics are the exact same as the English version. 'I am a proud American. I was born here, raised her, my dreams came true here in LA and I think being a proud American and still wanting better for your country can be the same truth and I think people are forgetting that.' After Nezza posted a clip on TikTok which showed a Dodgers official telling her to sing the anthem in English, before she stunningly defied that request, a large portion of the team's fans heaped praise on her. One replied to her latest TikTok video by saying: '50 year dodgers fan & proud of you, no more games til they make this right.' 'As a la native and a dodgers fan, I'm disappointed in them,' said another. 'I'm so glad you SANNNG it in Spanish even though they told you not too! You got a new follower queen'. 'God damn. Dodgers have botched the last week pretty badly,' another fan posted on X about the anthem controversy. While one said about Nezza: 'Good for her. The @dodgers are being hypocritical. They'll have Mexico Night, hire Mariachis to play at the games, & have surely cashed in on billions of $ of revenue from a loyal Latino fan-base, much of it undocumented. Maybe when/if they get hit in the pocketbook….' However, other members of the Dodgers faithful were less impressed by her protest after being invited by the team to sing in English. 'Total lack of respect by @Nezza,' one concluded. 'She's invited by @Dodgers to sing in English. But makes decision to sing in Spanish. This is why people don't take WOKE /DEI/serious. People should boycott her music'. Another commented: 'If the @Dodgers invite Nezza back to Dodger Stadium for another reimagining of our Star Spangled Banner I know I won't be the only one who stays away. Spoke to many friends (Latino included) and it doesn't sit right with any of us. She can serenade Dominican Rep crowds instead.' While one even claimed: 'After Nezza singing [in Spanish] and not being banned forever, I will never attend another Dodger game'. In a tearful follow-up video to her original TikTok post, Hernandez suggested she has been banned from Dodger Stadium after ignoring the request to perform in English. 'Thank you for all the sweet messages,' she concluded at the end of the video before adding, 'I love you guys so much. Safe to say I am never allowed in that stadium again.' Yet according to The LA Times, she was not punished for ignoring the team request and is not banned from Dodger Stadium in the future.
CNN
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Singer Nezza explains why she sang US National Anthem in Spanish at Dodgers game; says team objected
Amid the ongoing protests across the country over the weekend and continued frustrations in Los Angeles over US Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, one singer decided to take a stand with her performance at a Dodgers game. Nezza, whose full name is Vanessa Hernández, performed the song Saturday. She said she was first planning on singing the US National Anthem in Spanglish, but, with the ongoing immigration raids, she decided to do the song in Spanish only. She says a team employee told her not to. That didn't deter her, and she performed the song in Spanish anyway. 'I didn't really see an issue with it and I wanted people to know that I'm with them and I'm standing by them,' Nezza told CNN on Tuesday. An unidentified person, who Nezza says is a Dodgers employee, can be heard on a video saying to the singer, 'We are going to do the song in English today, so I'm not sure if that wasn't relayed.' That video, which Nezza shared on TikTok, now has over 12 million views. About two weeks before the game, Nezza said that she and her team sent an email to the Dodgers team asking to sing the National Anthem in both languages. 'As everything started to unfold and we got closer to the day, the raids – like everything, it was like a couple days before that – I was like, actually, I'm going to do it fully in Spanish,' Nezza said. In response, Nezza said, the Dodgers sent a PDF file that went through the song guidelines, but they never said no to her request. In the email to the team, Nezza said her managers included the history of the song and why she felt it was important to sing that version. The version of the song is titled 'El Pendón Estrellado' and was written by Clotilde Arias after the Division of Cultural Cooperation of the Department of State asked for submissions for translations of the 'Star Spangled Banner' in 1945 in Spanish and Portuguese, according to the Smithsonian. It was all part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 'Good Neighbor Policy' toward Latin America. Following her performance, the Dodgers employee – who she will not name – called Nezza's manager almost immediately and told them to never call or email them again, and that their client was not welcome back, according to the singer. The Dodgers have not responded to any of CNN's questions, but said in a statement that there were 'no consequences or hard feelings' regarding Nezza's performance. Nezza said she hasn't been contacted by the team and doesn't plan on attending the stadium again. 'I don't feel welcome to come back,' she said. Her parents are immigrants from Colombia and the Dominican Republic, who Nezza says became US citizens when she was younger. Her parents are 'overjoyed' with her performance, the singer said. Nezza added that many of the team's fans are Latino, saying, 'The lyrics are the same, I was still singing that I'm a proud American.' Her performance took place the same day that demonstrators filled streets across the country for the 'No Kings' protest and as frustrations in Los Angeles continued because of ICE raids that took place within the past few weeks. While the team hasn't outwardly spoken on the ongoing frustrations of the ongoing immigration crackdowns ICE raids that have been happening in the city, star player Dodgers player Kike Hernández, a native of Puerto Rico, showed his support for Los Angeles in an Instagram post. 'I am saddened and infuriated by what's happening in our country and our city,' Hernández said in part. 'Los Angeles and Dodger fans have welcomed me, supported me and shown me nothing but kindness and love.' 'This is my second home. And I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart,' He added. 'ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights.'
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dodgers fans give verdict on national anthem singer Nezza's ICE protest as she speaks out on 'insane' reaction
Los Angeles Dodgers fans are divided over the singer who defied orders from the team to sing a Spanish rendition of the American national anthem at the weekend. Dominican singer Nezza, 30, claimed the MLB team tried to stop her performing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish before Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants, before she did it anyway as a show of solidarity with ICE protestors in the city. Nezza, whose real name is Vanessa Hernandez, executed the poignant tribute against the Dodgers' wishes on the day of 'No Kings' protests across the US over Donald Trump 's controversial immigration policies, which comes after a week of unrest in LA. And after she posted a clip on TikTok which shows a Dodgers official telling her to sing the anthem in English, before she stunningly defied that request, a large portion of the team's fans have heaped praise on Hernandez. One replied to her latest TikTok video by saying: '50 year dodgers fan & proud of you, no more games til they make this right.' 'As a la native and a dodgers fan, I'm disappointed in them,' said another. 'I'm so glad you SANNNG it in Spanish even though they told you not too! You got a new follower queen'. 'God damn. Dodgers have botched the last week pretty badly,' another fan posted on X about the anthem controversy. While one said about Nezza: 'Good for her. The @dodgers are being hypocritical. They'll have Mexico Night, hire Mariachis to play at the games, & have surely cashed in on billions of $ of revenue from a loyal Latino fan-base, much of it undocumented. Maybe when/if they get hit in the pocketbook….' However, other members of the Dodgers faithful were less impressed by her protest after being invited by the team to sing in English. 'Total lack of respect by @Nezza,' one concluded. 'She's invited by @Dodgers to sing in English. But makes decision to sing in Spanish. This is why people don't take WOKE /DEI/serious. People should boycott her music'. Another commented: 'If the @Dodgers invite Nezza back to Dodger Stadium for another reimagining of our Star Spangled Banner I know I won't be the only one who stays away. Spoke to many friends (Latino included) and it doesn't sit right with any of us. She can serenade Dominican Rep crowds instead.' While one even claimed: 'After Nezza singing [in Spanish] and not being banned forever, I will never attend another Dodger game'. The Dodgers did not respond to a request for comment from on Sunday. In a tearful follow-up video to her original TikTok post, Hernandez suggested she has been banned from Dodger Stadium after ignoring the request to perform in English. 'Thank you for all the sweet messages,' she concluded at the end of the video before adding, 'I love you guys so much. Safe to say I am never allowed in that stadium again.' Yet according to The LA Times, she was not punished for ignoring the team request and is not banned from Dodger Stadium in the future. The R&B artist, whose online following has skyrocketed on the back of her viral post, also took to TikTok on Sunday to comment on the 'insane' reaction over the weekend. 'There's so many of you on here now. Welcome, hello. Oh my god, what is happening?' she said in astonishment. 'I am just so taken aback by all the love. I went into yesterday with no expectations. I've also been online for a long time, so you just never know. 'And I just wanted to say thank you, and it's so beautiful to see us all come together and support each other. Like, crazy. 'It's also been so insane looking at who's backed me today.' Protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdowns have been rife across Los Angeles over that last week. The Dodgers, who recently visited Trump in the White House as World Series champions, have not commented on the scenes. LA player Kike Hernandez adressed the situation on Instagram on Saturday, saying: 'I may not be Born & Raised, but this city adopted me as one of their own. 'I am saddened and infuriated by what's happening in our country and our city. Los Angeles and Dodger fans have welcomed me, supported me and shown me nothing but kindness and love.' Hernandez, who was born in Puerto Rico, added: 'This is my second home. And I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights. #CityOfImmigrants.'
