Nezza’s Controversial Spanish National Anthem Performance at Dodgers Game Sparks Death Threats

(LibertySociety.com) – Singer Nezza defied a Dodgers team request by performing the national anthem in Spanish, triggering both death threats from critics and support from Latino celebrities amid heightened immigration tensions in Los Angeles.

At a Glance

• Vanessa Hernández (Nezza) performed the U.S. national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium despite being specifically asked to sing in English
• She has received death threats following her performance, which she attributes to political motivations
• The singer wore a Dominican Republic shirt during her rendition and claims her decision was influenced by ICE presence in Los Angeles
• Nezza posted a TikTok video showing a team employee requesting the anthem be sung in English
• While Nezza claims she was banned from Dodger Stadium, the organization denies imposing any restrictions

Controversial Performance and Immediate Backlash

Singer Vanessa Hernández, known professionally as Nezza, sparked nationwide controversy after performing the national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium. Despite a team employee’s explicit request that she sing in English, Nezza proceeded with the Spanish version while wearing a Dominican Republic shirt. The performance occurred amid heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in Los Angeles, with Nezza later claiming her decision was influenced by ICE presence and protests taking place throughout the city.

Following her performance, Nezza shared a TikTok video showing her interaction with a Dodgers employee who had told her: “We are going to do the song in English today, so I’m not sure if that wasn’t relayed.” The video quickly went viral, amplifying both criticism and support for her actions. While some viewed her performance as disrespectful to American traditions, others praised it as an expression of cultural diversity.

Nezza reveals she’s received death threats after singing national anthem at Dodgers game in Spanish https://t.co/Yf7aN9p6OO pic.twitter.com/XwMFiDYlcn

— New York Post (@nypost) June 19, 2025

Death Threats and Public Response

The aftermath of Nezza’s performance has included numerous death threats directed at the singer. However, she has maintained a relatively unconcerned stance about these threats, attributing them to the nature of online discourse. In response to questions about the threats, Nezza downplayed their significance, focusing instead on the support she has received from prominent figures in the Latino community.

“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 told Fox News.

Nezza has defended her actions by emphasizing that the Spanish lyrics are identical in meaning to the English version and that her performance was not intended as a slight against American values. She has repeatedly identified herself as a proud American who believes in advocating for a better country, suggesting that dissent should not be confused with disloyalty.

Conflicting Claims About Stadium Ban

Adding to the controversy, Nezza has claimed that she was banned from Dodger Stadium following the incident. However, a spokesperson for the Dodgers organization has directly contradicted this assertion, stating that no such restrictions have been placed on the singer. This discrepancy has further fueled speculation about the motivations behind both Nezza’s performance and her subsequent statements.

“It’s been really sweet to see people you idolize be on the right side of history…” Nezza remarked about the support she’s received from celebrities in the Latin community, which she values more than the negative feedback.

Nezza has denied staging the incident for publicity, explaining that the video showing her interaction with the Dodgers employee was recorded by her boyfriend during a sound check. The performance coincided with “No Kings” protests against a military parade in Washington, D.C., which took place on President Trump’s birthday and marked the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. This timing has led some observers to question whether the anthem performance was intended as a political statement rather than an artistic choice.

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