Latin pop artist Vanessa Hernández, recognized by her stage name Nezza, has disclosed that she has been the target of death threats following her performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Spanish before the Dodgers-Giants game on Saturday.
Despite the threats, the singer and social media influencer remained unfazed, expressing to TMZ in an interview that she stands by her choice to deliver the anthem in Spanish.
“The death threats are part of it, but that’s just the nature of the internet,” Nezza told the publication. “I understand that with anything linked to politics, threats like these are unfortunately expected.”
Nezza added that she has seen people say that what she did was “disrespectful,” which she pushed back on, citing how the lyrics are the same as the original English version that Francis Scott Key wrote in 1814, and said it was “the same storyline.”
“I was still singing that I’m a proud American because I am a proud American,” she said. “I was born here. I was raised here. My dreams came true here in LA. I think being a proud American and still wanting better for your country can still be the same truth and I think people are forgetting.”
Nezza’s 90-second rendition of the national anthem in Spanish came amid recent ICE raids in Los Angeles, which have led to protests in cities across the country.
The anthem rendition went viral and made national headlines after she posted a video to TikTok that showed a Dodgers employee telling her, “We are going to do the song in English today, so I’m not sure if that wasn’t transferred or if that wasn’t relayed.”
It then cut to her singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Spanish.
The version Nezza sang — officially titled “El Pendón Estrellado” — was commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945 and was written by Peruvian-American composer Clotilde Arias.
It remains the only official translation of the national anthem, according to The Smithsonian.
Nezza, in an interview with the Associated Press, said that she was “super proud” of her decision and had “no regrets.”
Nezza also said her manager received a call from a Dodgers employee after the performance, saying that their clients were not welcome at Dodger Stadium again.
In statements to multiple outlets, the Dodgers have said there were no consequences and that Nezza would be welcomed back in the future.
