Fact Check: "The Athletic reported that the Dodgers did not punish Vanessa Hernández for her decision to sing the Spanish national anthem."
What We Know
On June 15, 2025, singer Vanessa Hernández, known as Nezza, performed the U.S. national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium, despite being instructed by a Dodgers employee to sing it in English. The anthem she sang was "El Pendón Estrellado," the official Spanish version commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945. Nezza later stated in a TikTok video that she felt compelled to sing the Spanish version due to ongoing protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles (source-1, source-2).
Following her performance, it was reported that Nezza was not punished or removed from the stadium, and there were no indications that she would face any bans from future events at Dodger Stadium (source-1, source-2).
Analysis
The claim that "The Athletic reported that the Dodgers did not punish Vanessa Hernández for her decision to sing the Spanish national anthem" is substantiated by multiple credible sources. Both The Athletic and other news outlets, including NBC Los Angeles and the Washington Post, confirmed that Nezza was not punished for her performance (source-1, source-2, source-3).
The sources reporting this information are reputable, including major news organizations with established journalistic standards. The Athletic, in particular, is known for its sports journalism and in-depth reporting. The consistency across various reports lends credibility to the claim that Nezza faced no repercussions from the Dodgers.
However, it is important to note that while Nezza was not punished, the Dodgers have not made any public statements regarding the incident, which may suggest a level of internal conflict or a desire to avoid controversy (source-1, source-4).
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that "The Athletic reported that the Dodgers did not punish Vanessa Hernández for her decision to sing the Spanish national anthem" is accurate. Multiple credible sources confirm that Nezza was not punished or banned from future performances at Dodger Stadium following her rendition of the anthem, despite the team's initial directive to sing in English.
Sources
- Nezza says her Spanish rendition of U.S. anthem at ...
- Nezza, Dodgers anthem singer, says she sang in Spanish ...
- Nezza sings national anthem in Spanish at Dodgers game - NBC Los Angeles
- Singer at Dodger Stadium sings national anthem in Spanish in protest ...
- Singer performs national anthem in Spanish before Dodgers game despite ...
- Nezza sings national anthem in Spanish at Dodgers as ...
- Singer defies Dodgers, sings anthem in Spanish before Giants game
- Dodger Stadium singer confirms she performed national ...
