Latest news with #VanessaHernández
The Guardian
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Nezza sings national anthem in Spanish at Dodgers as protest against immigration raids
Singer Vanessa Hernández says she chose to sing the Spanish version of the US national anthem at Dodger Stadium on Saturday as a protest against recent immigration raids. Hernández, who performs under the name Nezza, says she was warned by a member of the Dodgers staff to perform the anthem, before the team's game against the San Francisco Giants, in English. After her performance Hernández posted a video to TikTok, with the caption 'Watch the Dodgers tell me I can't sing the Spanish Star Spangled Banner that Roosevelt literally commissioned in 1945 – so I did it anyway' The video shows an apparent conversation with the Dodgers staff member. 'We are going to do the song in English today, so I don't know if that wasn't translated – er, communicated,' the employee says. However, Hernández went on to sing El Pendón Estrellado, which the US government commissioned as the Spanish version of the Star-Spangled Banner in 1945. She explained her decision in another social media video. 'I didn't think I would be met with any sort of 'No,' especially because we're in LA with everything happening,' said Hernández whose parents are from the Dominican Republic. 'I've sang the national anthem many times in my life, but today I could not. I'm sorry ... I just could not believe, when she walked in and told me 'No,' but I just felt like I needed to do it, para mi gente [for my people]. 'My parents are immigrants. They've been citizens my whole life at this point, they got documented really early, but I just can't imagine them being ripped away from me, even at this age, let alone a little kid. Like, what are we doing?' The Dodgers have yet to comment on the incident but The Athletic reports the club did not punish her for her decision. Hernández was not the only person over the weekend to make a statement on the immigration raids in LA. Angel City, LA's NWSL team, wore shirts that proclaimed themselves 'Immigrant City Football Club' before Saturday night's game against the North Carolina Courage.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
"She should be deported": Singer Nezza's anthem performance at Dodgers game draws harsh criticism over language choice
Image Source: Shutterstock Tension erupted at Dodger Stadium as Nezza, or Vanessa Hernández, sang the national anthem in Spanish, El Pendón Estrellado, with the Dodgers-Giants game as the backdrop. One would have thought she would sing it in English, but Nezza, instead, took the opportunity to protest the recent ICE raids and support immigrant families. The Internet soon exploded with fury, with some critics belittling her, "Totally selfish decision and she should be deported. The American Anthem should always be sung in English, it would be like going to Russia and singing their national anthem it's an absolute middle finger to America." Protest through performance at Dodgers Stadium Nezza explained on TikTok that the Spanish anthem was originally commissioned in 1945 by the U.S. State Department, intended to create bonds with Latin America. Wearing a Dominican Republic shirt, she sang with emotion, expressing how her immigrant parents "could be ripped away" - a fear that strikes home in this era of unlawful immigration enforcement. "Para mi gente," she said, basically stating that this was a performance for unity and cultural pride. Backlash and support collide The reaction was sharply divided. Some spectators expressed their venom online, one calling for her to be deported. Others saluted her courage, calling the whole thing beautiful and palpable. Dodgers declined to comment immediately, but Kiké Hernández did come out for immigrant rights, condemning the ICE raids as either profiling or abuse, if not both. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Men Over 50: Frequent Urination & Weak Stream? Do this Before Bed healthydayscare Click Here Undo The Giants players also chimed in on this outcry, further solidifying sports' alignment against the enforcement actions. Dodgers' silence and social context Nezza, in any case, was not removed from the stadium, all sources say. The team has remained relatively quiet on the subject of immigration; manager Dave Roberts noted that the unrest was 'unsettling for everyone.' He stressed that the Dodgers were trying to be a 'positive distraction' and not a platform for politics. Still, this performance gave a political edge to what is usually just a routine pregame ceremony at Dodger Stadium. Also Read: Singer Nezza performs U.S. national anthem in Spanish despite being told to sing in English only: "Today, Out of All Days… I Needed to Do It" Nezza's anthem in Spanish wasn't just a song - it was a declaration. She challenged norms, connected with a community feeling targeted by policy, and revealed how sport and social identity are entwined. Whether celebrated or condemned, her act forces us to reevaluate what unity, protest, and belonging truly look like under the stadium lights.
Sky News AU
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Singer slammed for performing US national anthem in Spanish to protest ICE deportations
Singer Nezza has been blasted after performing the US national anthem in Spanish to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations. Nezza, full name Vanessa Hernández, performed at the Dodger Stadium on Saturday for the LA Dodgers' game against the San Francisco Giants. In a video released to social media, Nezza was filmed being told not to sing the national anthem in Spanish before doing it anyway. The 30-year-old's political stunt was slammed by social media users who called out the singer's protest against ICE. 'Against the Dodgers wishes, their national anthem singer protested the ICE raids in Los Angeles by singing the national anthem in Spanish,' wrote Clay Travis.
New York Post
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Singer Nezza performed national anthem at Dodgers game in Spanish in anti-ICE protest — after team told her to sing only in English
Singer and social media personality Nezza broke a rule in Dodger Stadium on Saturday. Ahead of the Dodgers' eventual 11-5 win over the Giants, she sang the national anthem in Spanish, but according to a video later posted by the performer, she sang it in her first language against the wishes of the organization. Nezza, whose full name is Vanessa Hernández, posted a video on TikTok where viewers can hear an unidentified Dodgers employee telling her before the performance that 'we are going to do the song in English today, so I'm not sure if that wasn't relayed.' Advertisement The video later cuts to her singing the national anthem with the text 'So I did it anyway' displayed. 4 The start to Nezza's TikTok that shows a Dodgers employee telling her to sing the national anthem in english on Saturday. TikTok @babynezza 4 Nezza singing the national anthem in Spanish on Saturday at Dodgers Stadium. TikTok @babynezza Advertisement Nezza later posted another TikTok video explaining the 'emotional' situation with the Dodgers. She explained the version of the national anthem that she sang was commissioned in 1945 by the U.S. State Department under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in order to establish a better relationship with Latin Americans. The 30-year-old wanted to sing it amid the recent raids by ICE in Los Angeles. Advertisement '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 amid tears. '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].' 4 Nezza explains the story behind singing the national anthem in Spanish at Dodgers Stadium. TikTok @babynezza @babynezza i love you guys stay safe out there ♬ original sound – nezz 'I'm proud of myself for doing that today,' Nezza added. 'Because my parents are immigrants and they've been citizens my whole life at this point.' Advertisement She went on to say that she could not imagine being ripped away from her parents at this age, and especially at a younger age. The Dodgers did not put out a public comment on the incident. However, a team official explained to the Los Angeles Times that there were no consequences for the franchise regarding the performance, and Nezza would be welcomed back in the future. 4 Nezza attends the 'Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning' Los Angeles Creators Screening at Paramount Pictures Studios on May 12, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images for Paramount Pictures The organization has been rather quiet about the unrest going on in their city. Manager Dave Roberts has been asked about the situation a few times but hasn't offered much of an answer. 'I know that when you're having to bring people in and deport people, all the unrest, it's certainly unsettling for everyone,' he said, 'But I haven't dug enough and can't speak intelligently on it,' he said on Friday.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Nezza says she sang national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium against team's wishes
Singer and social media personality Nezza sang the national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night. And, according to a video the performer later posted to social media, she did so against the wishes of the Dodgers organization. In a video Nezza, whose full name is Vanessa Hernández, posted to TikTok, an unidentified Dodgers employee is heard telling her before Saturday's performance that 'we are going to do the song in English today, so I'm not sure if that wasn't relayed.' Then, the video cuts to Nezza — who was wearing a Dominican Republic shirt — signing a Spanish version of the Star-Spangled Banner on the field ahead of the Dodgers' win against the San Francisco Giants. The video's caption: 'So I did it anyway.' In a separate video, Nezza said the version of the song she sang was commissioned in 1945 by the U.S. State Department under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and that she wanted to sing it amid the recent unrest in Los Angeles stemming from raids by ICE agents. '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. 'But today out of all days, 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.' The Dodgers did not respond to a request for comment. In general, the Dodgers have largely been quiet about the raids and resulting protests in the city over the last week. Manager Dave Roberts has been asked about the situation twice. On Monday, he said that, 'I just hope that we can be a positive distraction for what people are going through in Los Angeles right now.' On Friday, he offered little further comment: 'I know that when you're having to bring people in and deport people, all the unrest, it's certainly unsettling for everyone,' he said, 'But I haven't dug enough and can't speak intelligently on it.' Veteran Kiké Hernández spoke out on Instagram on Saturday, writing that '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.' The Dodgers, however, have not issued any team-level statement, and a club executive told The Times' Dylan Hernández on Friday that they did not plan to make any comment.
