Why Nezza sang the national anthem in Spanish at a Dodgers game

Executive Summary

A Moment of Challenge and Dialogue

On Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, popular singer Vanessa Hernandez, known by her stage name Nezza, was invited to perform the U.S. national anthem before the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants baseball game. However, instead of performing the expected English version, she chose to sing the official Spanish version, "El Pendón Estrellado" (The Star-Spangled Banner), transforming a routine ceremonial performance into a public statement.

This decision, made against the explicit wishes of the Dodgers organization, immediately generated widespread attention and controversy. Nezza's performance was described as a "small-scale, one-person protest." However, in such a high-visibility public venue as a Dodgers game, its elevated profile and defiant spirit quickly elevated it beyond a minor incident to become a significant cultural flashpoint.

The repeated references to "widespread response and controversy," the event "going viral," and "over 12 million views on TikTok" demonstrate that its public impact far exceeded any "small-scale" description. This indicates that in the age of social media and heightened cultural sensitivity, even individual acts of defiance in public venues can quickly be amplified beyond their initial physical scope, highlighting the power of personal actions to drive large-scale public discourse.

The Artist's Voice: Nezza's Motivation and Background

Nezza, born Vanessa Hernandez, is an American singer-songwriter, professional dancer, and prominent social media content creator. Her artistic expression is deeply influenced by her Colombian and Dominican heritage, with her parents having a profound impact on her musical taste and stage presence. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area and later moving to Los Angeles, Nezza has always leaned toward blending Latin and American music, reflecting her unique artistic style rooted in multicultural backgrounds.

Initially, Nezza felt honored and excited about the Dodgers' invitation, seeing it as an opportunity in Los Angeles, the city where her dreams were coming true. However, approximately one week before the game, as protests in Los Angeles and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids escalated, Nezza felt a deep responsibility to represent her community.

During the performance, she wore a Dominican Republic T-shirt, further symbolizing her roots and solidarity. Her primary motivation was to "pay tribute to Los Angeles' immigrant population and echo nationwide protests." She explicitly stated: "I felt responsible to represent my people" and "if I don't support my people today, I will regret it for the rest of my life."

She was aware that the Dodgers preferred an English performance, as a staff member had told her shortly before the performance that she "should sing in English." Her decision to sing in Spanish, accompanied by a TikTok caption "I did it anyway," was a conscious act of defiance rooted in deep personal convictions and solidarity.

Historical Roots: The Official History of the Spanish National Anthem

The Spanish version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that Nezza performed is called "El Pendón Estrellado". This version was translated by Peruvian composer Clotilde Arias.

Crucially, "El Pendón Estrellado" is not a recent or unofficial translation. It was officially commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration in 1945. The primary motivation for this commission was to promote good diplomatic and cultural relations with Latin American countries during and after World War II, consistent with Roosevelt's 1933 "Good Neighbor Policy."

The U.S. State Department's Office of Cultural Cooperation worked with the National Conference of Music Educators to seek a version that could effectively convey American values and aspirations to Spanish-speaking audiences. Clotilde Arias successfully created a version with singable lyrics while remaining faithful to the original's patriotic essence. Her translation was accepted as the "only official translation of the anthem permitted to be sung."

The research clearly establishes that "El Pendón Estrellado" is an officially commissioned translation. However, the controversy surrounding Nezza's performance and Nezza's own description of it as "forgotten Latino history" reveals a significant historical oversight in public consciousness.

Nezza emphasized that "the lyrics and story are the same" and affirmed "we're still saying we're proud to be Americans." For her, "El Pendón Estrellado" represents not only American pride but also "forgotten Latino living history," highlighting the important role of Latino people in building the nation.

Cultural Intersection: The Dodgers, Los Angeles, and Latino Identity

Los Angeles is home to a massive and vibrant Latino population, making it an important cultural center for this community. The Los Angeles Dodgers have a long and deep history with the Latino community, with "closeness to the team" becoming "an important component of Latino identity in Los Angeles."

The Dodgers organization has made significant efforts to cultivate relationships with Latino fans through:

• Targeted Marketing: Participating in Hispanic-focused marketing campaigns like MLB's "Aqui" campaign
• Community Programs: "Dodgers Dreamfields" ($5 million investment in youth baseball fields)
• Youth Outreach: "Dodgers RBI Program" serving 4,000 children with baseball instruction and education
• Family Programs: "Dodgers Baseball for Kids Program" serving over 20,000 low-income youth and families annually

Despite these extensive community investments, Nezza's perception that the team's refusal to allow the Spanish anthem was "a sting to the Latino people" suggests a gap between transactional engagement and symbolic inclusion. This highlights the critical distinction between providing resources and validating cultural identity, especially during times of social tension.

Controversy and Dialogue: Public and Institutional Reactions

After Nezza's performance, the Dodgers organization sent conflicting messages:

This contradiction reveals the complex balance large organizations face when handling sensitive sociopolitical situations - attempting to control public narrative while enforcing internal compliance.

Public Reactions

Nezza's performance generated polarized responses:

Broader Context: Language, Patriotism, and Social Protest in Sports

The tradition of singing the national anthem at American sporting events became prominent during World War II. Despite the controversy surrounding Nezza's performance, there are historical precedents for variations:

• Bilingual Anthems: NHL and MLB games with Canadian teams routinely feature both national anthems
• Alternative Interpretations: José Feliciano (1968 World Series) and Jimi Hendrix (1969 Woodstock) performed highly unconventional versions
• Other Spanish Versions: "Nuestro Himno" has been performed by artists like Wyclef Jean and Carlos Ponce
• Olympic Precedents: Olympic anthems are regularly translated into host country languages

The fact that musical variations are more accepted than linguistic ones, particularly when tied to immigration issues, reveals that language changes are seen as greater challenges to perceived national unity than artistic interpretation.

Conclusion: Lasting Impact and Future Considerations

Nezza's performance of "El Pendón Estrellado" at Dodger Stadium serves as a powerful case study in individual conviction and America's evolving cultural identity. What began as a "small-scale, one-person protest" gained significant national attention, demonstrating the amplification power of social media and the cultural significance of sports venues as platforms for social commentary.

Key takeaways from this incident include:

• Historical Legitimacy: The Spanish national anthem has official government sanction dating to 1945, yet this fact remains largely unknown
• Cultural Representation: The difference between community investment and symbolic inclusion became clearly apparent
• Institutional Response: The contradiction between public and private messaging reveals organizational challenges in handling controversial social issues
• National Dialogue: The incident reignited important conversations about language, identity, and inclusive patriotism

This event provides a compelling example of how sports venues serve as cultural battlegrounds where social tensions are actively performed and negotiated. It prompts continued reflection on how major institutions will adapt to embrace diverse forms of patriotic expression in an increasingly multicultural America.

As America continues to grapple with questions of identity, belonging, and representation, Nezza's courageous act at Dodger Stadium will likely be remembered as a pivotal moment that challenged narrow definitions of patriotism and opened space for more inclusive expressions of American identity.