Nezza defies Dodgers’ demand and sings National Anthem in Spanish in solidarity with anti-ICE protesters

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Nezza wasn’t about to back down Saturday night, June 14 — no matter what the Los Angeles Dodgers said.

In a moment that has since blown up on TikTok, the R&B artist (real name Vanessa Hernandez) claimed she was told she couldn’t sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Spanish. But rather than cave, Nezza belted it out in Spanish anyway as a gesture of solidarity with anti-ICE protesters rallying across the city.

Nezza had planned her rendition to align with the nationwide “No Kings” protests, organized in response to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies that have already sparked major unrest in Los Angeles, the Daily Mail reported.

Nezza doesn’t flinch from performing the National Anthem in Spanish

Before taking the field at Dodger Stadium, Nezza says she was blindsided by a last-minute demand to switch to English.

In a TikTok that has now gone viral, she included audio of what she says is a Dodgers official, off-camera, shutting her down just before showtime.

“We are going to do the song in English today,” a woman can be heard telling her. Nezza doesn’t respond in the clip, but her face says it all.

Still, she went through with it — singing the anthem in Spanish just as planned. “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," Nezza captioned her TikTok.

Draped in a Dominican Republic jersey, the 30-year-old proudly stood her ground. The crowd roared in support as cheers could be heard at the end of her performance, before the Dodgers went on to crush the San Francisco Giants 11–5.

An emotional Nezza speaks out on her decision to defy Dodgers' demand

Nezza later posted another TikTok, fighting back tears as she explained the emotions she went through.

“I didn’t think I’d be met with any sort of no, especially because we are in LA,” she shared. “I just felt like I needed to do it. I’m still very shaken up and emotional.”

"Especially because we're in LA, and with everything happening. I've sang the National Anthem many times in my life, but today, out of all days, I could not. I'm sorry," she added.

"I could not believe it when she walked in and told me no. But I just felt I needed to do it. For anyone who has been following me for a while, you will know everything I do is out of love, good energy," Nezza shared. 

For Nezza, this was personal. “I am proud of myself for doing that today because my parents are immigrants. I just can’t imagine them being ripped away from me, even at this age. Let alone little kids, what are we doing?” she asked.

“Anyways, sorry, this is a whole different side of me. Thank you for all the sweet messages. I love you guys so much. Safe to say I am never allowed in that stadium again," she concluded.

Dodgers silent on Nezza's performance

As of now, the Dodgers haven’t publicly addressed the claims. But according to The Athletic, Nezza hasn’t been punished for going against the team’s directive thus far — and she isn’t banned from Dodger Stadium (despite her own doubts).

Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts also played it safe when asked about the protests happening around LA.

“Honestly, I don’t know enough to be quite honest with you,” he said on Friday. “I know that when you’re having to bring people in and deport people, all the unrest, it’s certainly unsettling for everyone. But I haven’t dug enough and can’t speak intelligently on it.”

The whole situation unfolded against a backdrop of ongoing demonstrations across Los Angeles, with activists pushing back against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdowns.

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