"Almost s**t my pants": Singer Nezza reflects on anxiety and pride about singing national anthem in Spanish at Dodgers game

So many people were referencing during the moment when singer Vanessa Hernández, aka Nezza, sang the U.S. national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium, against the Dodgers' initial request. However, one poignant moment during a recent Jimmy Kimmel Live! After the performance, Nezza said that "I almost s**t my pants", but she is very grateful to have represented her Latino culture on a national stage.

Singing the national anthem in Spanish was Nezza's show of solidarity

When protests broke out in LA against ICE raids and at the height of the anti-immigrant \ agenda of the Trump Administration, Nezza felt the need to support her fellow human beings. The Dodgers had previously told the 32-year-old singer that the song was only to be sung in English, but she requested permission to sing the song in English and Spanish. They did not disregard her idea; they simply said that her time on stage was limited to 90 seconds.


Three days earlier, overlapping with the ‘No Kings’ protest marches, the nezza performed half the set in full-on, ballad-style español, including the 1945 translated anthem ‘El Pendón Estrellado.' She showed up to the stadium beaming, confident that she was going to make a beautiful moment for her people. Even after being told again backstage, the anthem should be in English, she did it anyway. She sat there and thought to herself, "Something came over me," she remembered, “The mama bear in me came out.”

Nezza receives support after Dodgers anthem controversy

Nezza received some backlash for performing the national anthem in Spanish at the Dodgers event, but after negative criticism started ringing through social media, a wave of support from fellow fans, athletes, and public figures flowed through, including Dodgers infielder Kiké Hernández, who came to her defense.

Also Read: Los Angeles Dodgers spark outrage after blocking Donald Trump-backed ICE agents from stadium access

Contrary to what had been speculated, the Dodgers' office said Nezza is not banned from performing at the stadium. While she was never banned, the organization welcomed her comments and reiterated its support of Los Angeles' diverse communities. Nezza, who referred to herself as a rule-follower, said she was terrified but grateful for what turned out to be a potent, emotional, and historic performance.


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