After Singing National Anthem in Spanish Despite Warning, Nezza Says Tearfully: ‘Today, Out of All Days… I Needed to Do It’

It was supposed to be a routine ceremonial performance, like so many before it at Dodger Stadium. Under the golden hue of the California sunset, singer and social media personality Nezza stepped onto the field, microphone in hand, to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Sunday home game. But what unfolded next stirred the nation — a moment that turned a ballgame tradition into a quiet act of defiance and personal expression.

Nezza sang the anthem, as she was asked to — but not in English. In a move that reportedly defied direct instructions from game officials and organizers, she delivered the “Star-Spangled Banner” in Spanish, honoring her Latin heritage in a way that caught many off guard and left others deeply moved.

By the time she sang the final words, a hush fell over sections of the crowd. Then came the applause — some polite, some thunderous — and confusion too. Social media lit up within minutes, with videos of the performance circulating across Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Commentators debated whether the act was disrespectful, powerful, or both. But when Nezza stepped backstage with tears in her eyes and gave a brief emotional interview, her reason for the decision made the picture clearer.

“Today, out of all days,” she said, choking back sobs, “I needed to do it. I knew I’d probably get in trouble. I knew what they told me. But this wasn’t about rules. It was about my heart.”

Sources close to the event confirmed that Nezza had been advised — and later, explicitly instructed — not to sing the anthem in Spanish. “Organizers wanted to avoid backlash or controversy,” a source with knowledge of the pregame production said. “She had mentioned her intention earlier in the week, and they told her it would be best to stick to the original version. But she felt strongly about it.”

That much was evident. As Nezza sang each line — “Oh, di, ¿puedes ver…?” — she carried a blend of reverence and resolve that resonated in every syllable. Born to Colombian and Dominican parents, Nezza has never shied away from celebrating her cultural identity. Her music often blends English and Spanish lyrics, and her social media platforms amplify Latinx voices and experiences. But this, she admitted, was different.

“Honestly, I wasn’t trying to make a political statement,” she said. “I was trying to make a human one. This country belongs to all of us. And for so many of us, Spanish is the language of our lullabies, our grandparents, our homes. Singing the anthem in Spanish doesn’t change its meaning. It deepens it — for me, at least.”

Yet the backlash was immediate in some corners. Critics flooded Dodgers social media channels, calling the act “disrespectful” and “divisive.” Some framed it as unpatriotic, even though Spanish versions of the anthem have long existed — including translations approved by the U.S. government for military and civic ceremonies.

But others celebrated Nezza’s courage. A surge of fans, fellow artists, and public figures posted in support, sharing clips of the performance and affirming her right to interpret the anthem through her own cultural lens.

Dodgers officials released a neutral statement hours later: “We are proud to host artists of diverse backgrounds and talents. While our pregame programming is coordinated in advance, we continue to support artistic expression and the diversity of our fan base.”

It was a diplomatic way of not inflaming either side. But it’s clear the moment sparked something bigger than a game.

What gave Nezza’s performance additional poignancy was the date. June 16 marked the anniversary of her grandfather’s arrival in the United States from the Dominican Republic in the 1960s. “He was my first hero,” she said. “He didn’t speak English when he got here. He worked brutal hours, faced hate, and still believed in the promise of this country. He died before I ever got the chance to sing on a stage this big. So I sang to him. For him.”

Tears filled her eyes again as she remembered how her mother cried when she told her of the plan. “She said, ‘Do it for all of us. Let them hear us.’ I think, for the first time, I understood what that meant.”

Nezza’s performance joins a short but meaningful list of national anthem renditions that sparked national conversation. In 1945, famed Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano performed a Spanish version of the anthem at a baseball game — a rendition that drew controversy even decades later. In 2006, Mexican-American artists made headlines during immigration protests by releasing a Spanish-language version of the anthem called “Nuestro Himno” — “Our Anthem.” While critics pounced, supporters saw it as a tribute to multiculturalism.

For Nezza, those examples were more than history lessons — they were a blueprint.

“I remembered what José Feliciano went through,” she said. “I remembered the criticism. And I also remembered that he never apologized. Because he was singing from the soul.”

When asked if she regretted her decision, Nezza shook her head.

“No. I don’t regret it. If I get banned, if I get canceled, I can live with that. What I couldn’t live with is staying silent when my spirit was screaming to be heard.”

As the crowd exited Dodger Stadium, several fans were still talking about the moment. One young girl, around 10 years old, clutched her father’s hand and said in Spanish, “Papá, ella cantó para nosotros.” Dad nodded quietly, clearly moved.

That — more than the tweets or headlines — may be the impact Nezza hoped for.

In the days to come, it’s unclear if there will be consequences. Nezza’s publicist declined to comment on any formal fallout, saying only, “We stand by her.”

Some Dodgers insiders suggested that she may not be invited back for future anthem performances. But fans are already pushing for the opposite. A Change.org petition demanding the Dodgers invite her back — this time with full support — garnered thousands of signatures within hours.

Nezza, for her part, doesn’t seem focused on the aftermath. “What matters is the moment,” she said. “And in that moment, I felt free. I felt seen. I felt like my grandfather was there, hand on my shoulder. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that feeling.”

As the clip of her performance continues to circulate, it’s clear that, love it or not, Nezza touched a national nerve. In an era when identity, language, and patriotism are often polarizing battlegrounds, her quiet act of resistance — or remembrance — has sparked a conversation that transcends a baseball game.

And in her tear-streaked words — “Today, out of all days… I needed to do it” — many found a message that lingered long after the final pitch was thrown.