After Dodger Anthem Uproar, Nezza Fires Back: ‘No Regrets'
R&B singer Nezza stunned fans at Dodger Stadium by performing the U.S. national anthem in Spanish—a bold move that lit up the internet. Her emotional 90-second rendition had the crowd erupting in cheers, but behind the scenes, tension simmered. Nezza later revealed she expected to be booed, which is why she kept her eyes closed while singing. Dodgers staff reportedly pushed her toward performing in English, but the moment she saw the sea of Latino families in the stands, her decision was clear. Her TikTok showing the staff exchange went viral, with many praising her quiet defiance during a time when ICE raids have rattled L.A.'s immigrant communities. The Spanish version she sang, El Pendón Estrellado, was officially commissioned in 1945, adding historical weight to her stand.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Why Vikram Seth writes in English, and who is his ideal reader
On Vikram Seth's birthday (June 20), readers across the world remember the poet and novelist whose singular voice defies easy classification. Born in Calcutta in 1952, Seth's literary journey traverses continents and genres, but at the heart of his work remains a solemn commitment to the Indian experience. In a telling anecdote from the India International Centre Quarterly (Spring 1997), a French journalist once pressed Seth on his decision to write in English, suggesting it might create an 'unavoidable' distance between author and Indian reader. In response, Seth, whose magnum opus A Suitable Boy had just been translated into French, said: 'English is the language I know best… Hindi is my mother tongue; I learned Urdu; my father speaks Punjabi and Hindi; my mother… speaks Bengali… but I do not speak Bengali. English is the language I know best.' A response that lays bare the layered complexities of identity in postcolonial India. Seth further clarified that his ideal reader was not the metropolitan critic but 'a sixty-year-old Indian, living in a small town in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar… He is more important to me than any critic or foreign reader.' Whether or not that remains the case today, Seth's work endures as a bridge between languages and generations. However, Seth was clear about his desire to see A Suitable Boy, (which at around 1,500 is a rather dense tomb) is translated into Hindi. He added that it was in Hindi that the novel would 'look like its original version.' Few writers move between forms with as much alacrity as Vikram Seth. He has composed novels in verse, travelogues in prose, and rhyming retellings of animal fables. His recent work, the English translation of The Hanuman Chalisa, he returns to his forte – rhyme. In the slim 100-page volume, Seth succeeds in recreating the incantatory quality of Tulsidas's original. On this occasion, we revisit three of Seth's most enduring contributions: No list of Vikram Seth's works is complete without A Suitable Boy, his magnum opus. At over 1,300 pages, this sprawling novel is set in post-independence India and weaves together the lives of four families against a backdrop of political and social change. At its heart is Lata Mehra's journey to find 'a suitable boy,' a quest that explores love, tradition, and personal freedom. With its rich characterizations and vivid storytelling, this book remains a timeless classic. Before A Suitable Boy, Seth made a mark for himself with The Golden Gate, a novel written entirely in verse. Inspired by Pushkin's Eugene Onegin, this modern tale follows a group of young professionals in 1980s San Francisco as they navigate love, friendship, and existential dilemmas. The book proves Seth's mastery of form and language. Seth's Beastly Tales is a collection of fables in verse. Featuring animals from India, China, Greece, Ukraine, and his own imagination, these tales are satirical, and often carry moral lessons. Perfect for both children and adults, this book is a must-read.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Jeffery Archer Exclusive: "My Personal Hero Is RK Narayan, He Should Have Got The Nobel Prize"
In an exclusive tongue-in-cheek interview with NDTV, celebrated English novelist Jeffery Archer and Indian author and ex-diplomat Amish Tripathi opened up in a rather fun way about the first ever Archer-Amish Award. Jeffery Archer, whose latest work An Eye For An Eye took the literary world by storm, added all the 'just for laughs' moments to the interview. Amish Tripathi, best known for the Shiva Trilogy, started off the interview saying, "First of all, what an honour to have my name associated with someone I've been a fan of since my school days." The author said he is humbled by his name being mentioned in the same breath as the iconic British novelist, who penned Kane And Abel (1979), Only Time Will Tell (2011) and The Sins of The Father (2012). Jeffery Archer added life to the interaction, expressing his admiration for his Indian readership. "And the Indians-they're among the biggest readers on earth. India still loves books." He further spoke about his ultimate fandom for the Malgudi Days author, "And, of course, you've produced so many giants over the years. My personal hero is R.K. Narayan. What a storyteller! (He) should've got the Nobel Prize. Should have - unquestionably," he tells NDTV. Dr. Shalini Mullick has been named the inaugural winner of the IGF Archer Amish Award for Storytellers. The honour has been presented in partnership with The House of Abhinandan Lodha at a ceremony held of day 1of IGF London being organised at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre. U.K. Minister for Culture Lisa Nandy presented a cheque of USD 25,000 to the winner for her novel, The Way Home. Mullick's book was selected as the standout piece for its moving and relatable exploration of grief, identity and healing. It is a story of three millennials seeking refuge in Goa as they traverse through their personal demons and discover themselves and the strength in friendship.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Aamir Khan holds hands of girlfriend Gauri Spratt and son Azad Rao Khan as they arrive for Sitaare Zameen Par screening
Actor Aamir Khan has been busy promoting his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par for the last few days. It marks his return to screens after a gap of three years. The actor arrived at the screening of Sitaare Zameen Par with his girlfriend Gauri Spratt. The actor was seen posing with Gauri, while his son, Azad Rao Khan, also joined them. The three of them held hands and smiled for pictures. (Also read: Sachin Tendulkar reviews Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par; can't stop gushing about the actors. Watch) In the videos that have been shared by paparazzi accounts on Instagram, Aamir was seen with his girlfriend, Gauri Spratt, as they made their way towards the entrance of the screening hall. Right in front of the movie poster, the two of them stood for pictures. Aamir's son Azad also hopped towards him and held his left hand. A post shared by Varinder Chawla (@varindertchawla) Aamir looked dapper in a cream-coloured sherwani, while Azad wore a deep blue suit for the occasion. Meanwhile, Gauri looked resplendent in a light green and blue sari. Aamir's daughter Ira Khan was also seen at the premiere. She arrived with her husband Nupur Shikhare. Aamir introduced Gauri to the media on his 60th birthday in March this year, in Mumbai. Since then, he has visited several events with Gauri. Aamir was previously married to Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao. Sitaare Zameen Par is the spiritual sequel of the 2007 hit Taare Zameen Par. Directed by RS Prasanna, Sitaare Zameen Par stars Aamir as a basketball coach leading a team of children with special needs. It marks the debut of Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Samvit Desai, Vedant Sharma, Ayush Bhansali, Ashish Pendse, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Naman Mishra, and Simran Mangeshkar. It is a remake of the Spanish film Campeones. It will release in theatres on June 20.
