Singer Nezza has claimed the Dodgers tried to stop her singing the national anthem in Spanish before their game on Saturday night as a show of solidarity with ICE protestors in the city.
In a tearful post on TikTok, she said she felt the tribute was poignant after days of unrest in the city and was stunned that the organization told her to sing it in English.
In a separate video, she shared a clip of what she says was a Dodgers official, from off-camera, telling her to sing the anthem in English.
‘We are going to do the song in English today,’ the woman can be heard saying in the footage, to which Nezza looks visibly surprised. The clip goes on to show her defying the request.
‘Watch the Dodgers tell me I can’t sing the Spanish Star-Spangled Banner that Roosevelt literally comissioned in 1945,’ she captioned the post. ‘So I did it anyway,’ she added as an extra comment when the video eventually shows her singing on the field.
The 30-year-old, who wore a Dominican Republic jersey for her performance, then shared an emotional second post explaining her version of events from the start of the game.
Singer Nezza performed the national anthem in Spanish at the Dodgers game on Saturday
She cried as she recounted her experience on TikTok later on in the evening on Saturday
The singer also shared a video of her being told to sing the national anthem in English
‘I didn’t think I’d be met with any sort of no,’ Nezza – real name Vanessa Hernandez – said on her TikTok in a post late on Saturday night. ‘I just felt like I needed to do it. I’m still very shaken up and emotional.
‘Especially because we’re in L.A., 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.
‘I could not believe when she walkied in and told me no. For anyone who has been following me for a while, you will know everything I do is out of love.
‘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?
‘Anyways, thank you for all the messages. I love you guys so much. Safe to say I am never allowed in that stadium again.’
The Dodgers have been contacted for comment. According to The Athletic, she was not punished for ignoring the team request and is not banned from Dodger Stadium in the future.
In the video Nezza shared, the end of her performance can be heard getting loud cheers from the crowd in attendance for the game against San Francisco Giants, which the Dodgers won 11-5.
Protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdowns have been rife across Los Angeles over that last week.
The Dodgers visited Donald Trump at the White House in April as World Series winners
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani shakes hands with Donald Trump next to the World Series trophy
The Dodgers, who visitied Donald Trump in the White House recently as World Series champions, have not commented about the scenes.
‘Honestly, I don’t know enough, to be quite honest with you,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts 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.’
Dodgers 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.’
