At Saturday's Los Angeles Dodgers game, Latin-R&B sensation Nezza made a bold statement by performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in Spanish, despite prior warnings against doing so. A TikTok video posted by the singer captures the moment a Dodgers representative informs her that the anthem must be sung in English, only to cut to footage of Nezza's Spanish-language rendition being warmly embraced by the ballpark crowd.
Nezza's original TikTok post, which garnered over 4 million views by Sunday afternoon, was captioned: "Watch the Dodgers tell me I can't sing the Spanish 'Star-Spangled Banner' that Roosevelt actually commissioned in 1945... So I did it anyway." The clip shows Nezza, donning a Dominican Republic jersey, smiling until she hears the representative's statement. Her smile instantly fades, and the video abruptly ends before she has a chance to respond verbally.
In a subsequent, emotional TikTok post on Saturday night, Nezza shared, "It's safe to say I'm never allowed in that stadium again." However, on Sunday, the Dodgers assured the Los Angeles Times that no hard feelings existed, stating that "there were no consequences from the club regarding the performance, and Nezza would be welcome back at the stadium in the future."
In her Saturday night video, Nezza, who starts the clip laughing but ends it wiping away tears, explained her motives. "Bear with me; I'm still very shaken up and emotional," she said, emphasizing that her version is part of the anthem's government-authorized history in the United States. "You can Google it, but I'll just read it to you quickly: 'It was officially commissioned in 1945 by the U.S. State Department as part of President Franklin Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy to foster better relations with Latin America,'" she recounted.
She continued, "Because of this, I didn't think I'd encounter any opposition, especially considering we're in L.A., and given everything happening. I've sung the national anthem in English many times in my life, but today, of all days, I couldn't do it. I'm sorry. I couldn't believe it when she walked in and said no. I felt compelled to sing it anyway. For anyone who's followed me for a while, you know everything I do stems from love. And I'm proud of myself for doing it today. My parents are immigrants who have been citizens for as long as I can remember. They documented themselves early on, but I can't fathom them being torn away from me, even at my age, let alone when I was a child. What are we doing?"
"Anyways, sorry for this different side of me that you all never see," Nezza said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. "But thank you for all the sweet messages. It's safe to say I'm never allowed in that stadium again. But I love you guys so much."
Recently, Nezza sang an English version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at an Oakland Athletics game in her native Bay Area on June 3, which may have been how the Dodgers became aware of her anthem-singing prowess.
The multifaceted artist, who doubles as a singer-songwriter and dancer, hails from a Colombian-Dominican heritage and was nurtured in the vibrant Bay Area. After graduating from Santa Clara High, she ventured to L.A. with dreams of making it big in the music industry. Her musical journey culminated in the release of her debut EP, "Club Solita," in October 2021. While she has primarily recorded her tunes in English, it's her Spanish-language track, "Corazon Frio," that has garnered the most attention on Spotify. Currently, she's in the throes of crafting her debut album, preceded by the mesmerizing single "Classy," which debuted on the Plush label on June 6th.
The Dodgers have faced criticism for remaining silent amidst the ICE raids that have stirred up controversy. L.A. Times sports columnist Dylan Hernández stirred the pot with a scathing article titled, "Cowardly Dodgers remain silent as ICE raids terrorize their fans." He penned, "The Dodgers pride themselves on having over 40% of their fan base comprising Latinos, yet they fail to extend a word of solace to the shaken community."
Despite the immigration crackdown being overwhelmingly unpopular in L.A., the Dodgers have historically maintained a steadfast apostolic stance, shying away from political commentary. Their caution towards controversy may have been further cemented after facing backlash from all quarters in 2023 for their handling of a satirical, religiously themed drag troupe's invitation saga during a Pride night event.
As tensions escalated in the city last week, team manager Dave Roberts commented, "I sincerely hope we can serve as a positive distraction amidst the challenges facing Los Angeles." Later, when quizzed by a reporter, he admitted, "I haven't delved deep enough into the issue to comment intelligently on it."
Conversely, beloved team member Kike Hernandez felt compelled to voice his concerns about the unrest on his Instagram page, bilingually in Spanish and English. He penned, "Though I wasn't born and raised here, this city has embraced me as one of its own. I'm heartbroken and enraged by what's happening in our country and city. Los Angeles and the Dodger fans have welcomed me with open arms, supported me, and showered me with nothing but kindness and love. This is my second home, and I can't stand witnessing our community being violated, profiled, abused, and torn apart. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, dignity, and fundamental human rights." He concluded with the hashtag "#CityOfImmigrants."
