Latest news with #deathThreats
Fox News
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Controversial national anthem singer at Dodgers game says she's received death threats
Vanessa Hernández, known by her stage name Nezza, sang a Spanish rendition of the United States' national anthem at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night, and she claimed the team wished she did not. Now, the singer is saying she has since received death threats for her performance. Nezza, wearing a Dominican Republic shirt while performing, posted a video on TikTok of a team employee telling her, "We are going to do the song in English today." Nezza decided to sing the Spanish version anyway, saying in a later TikTok video that it was in response to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in Los Angeles that has led to protests and unrest in the city. She said the backlash she has received has been harmful. "That's just the internet. That's going to come with something like that. Anything that involves politics is going to include a death threat here and there," Nezza said to TMZ Sports. "The main thing I've seen seeing is that it's disrespectful. I don't think it's disrespectful, because the lyrics are still the same exact lyrics as the English version. If both songs were made into a music video, it'd be the exact music video. "I'm a proud American. I was born here, raised here, my dreams came true here in L.A. 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 that." Nezza said she has also received support from celebrities in the Latin community, which "outweighs" the hate. "It's been really sweet to see people you idolize be on the right side of history…" she said. "I already knew in my heart what I did was right, but this just triple-confirms it." In the aforementioned TikTok, Nezza said she "just felt like I needed to" sing the Spanish version - but now she does "not feel welcome back" at Dodger Stadium. Other Los Angeles-based professional sports teams have taken a stance, including the NWSL's Angely City F.C., which gave fans "Immigrant City Football Club" T-shirts at their game on Saturday. Players were also seen warming up with the t-shirts on before their match to show support for those protesting. Nezza's Spanish rendition of the anthem came on the day of numerous "No Kings" protests, which were against the military parade in Washington, D.C., that coincided with President Donald Trump's birthday, across the country. Trump's birthday was also the 250th birthday celebration of the United States Army. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Man convicted of burning Koran and shouting 'f*** islam' outside Turkish embassy admits he is 'very worried' that he may now end up being killed
A man who was convicted of a public order offence for burning a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish consulate while shouting 'f*** Islam' says he has received 'hundreds' of death threats since his protest and is 'afraid of being killed'. Hamit Coskun, 50, was ordered to pay £240 and a statutory £96 surcharge on Monday after screaming 'Koran is burning' and 'Islam is religion of terrorism' while holding a flaming copy of the religious Islamic text above his head, in a controversial demonstration earlier this year. During his protest - which took place on February 13 in Knightsbridge - he was attacked by a man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who was allegedly holding a knife. The man then spat at and kicked Mr Coskun. Two days later on February 15 Mr Coskun's home was broken into by two Iraqi men who threatened him with an ashtray and a knife. Following this, Mr Coskun was placed under police protection for two days and was then forced to flee the city he was living in. Since then Mr Coskun has received scores of abusive messages and death threats which have left him fearing for his life. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Turkish born Mr Coskun, who is half Armenian and half Kurdish, said: 'My social media accounts and phonebook are full of death threats from [people based in] cities like London and Birmingham. Hamit Coskun leaving Westminster Magistrates' Court, central London, where he was sentenced to a £240 fine, with a statutory surcharge of £96 after he was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence of using disorderly behaviour when a Koran was burnt outside the Turkish consulate in London on February 13 'Like everyone else, I am afraid of being killed [and] I am very worried because I know that I may face security risks. 'This is the reality of the "religion" we call Islam. 'It does not respect different beliefs and cultures, it does not recognize the right to life. 'But I am not a coward. 'I am ready to pay the price.' Social media posts sent to Mr Coskun and seen by the Daily Mail include one that states: 'You should sacrifice yourself to Koran. You will die'. Another says: 'Hail to the courageous man who will make your corpse lie down on the ground.' Mr Coskun, a committed atheist, was forced to flee his home country of Turkey two and a half years ago. He is currently seeking asylum in the UK. When asked whether he felt protected in Britain Mr Coskun admitted: 'What really worries and upsets me is the attitude of the police [because] unfortunately, the police don't care. 'After returning from London on February 15, I was attacked by two Iraqi Muslims in Derby. 'Despite being arrested, they were released within a day [so] I had to change my address for security reasons. 'I am not [currently] under police protection and [when] I told them I felt unsafe they said there was nothing they could do.' Earlier this week politicians, including opposition leader Kemi Badenoch, as well as leading free speech campaigners slammed the conviction of Mr Coskun warning that the ruling was a blasphemy law by the back door. Defiant, Mr Coskun has said that he plans to appeal the decision - with the help of the National Secular Society [NSS] and the Free Speech Union [FSU] who are covering his legal fees. He said: 'I am grateful to the NSS and FSU, who have stood by me on this issue and have supported me unconditionally. 'The court ruling is an unjust decision. The ruling will only please and satisfy Islamists. They are trying to clamp down on freedom of expression.' 'I am an activist. I criticize Islam. I think that Islam poses a threat to the whole world. '[While protesting] I remain within democratic measures. 'I do not interfere with anyone. This is my democratic right [and] I will continue my struggle. 'This does not necessarily mean burning the Quran [but] I will use my right to protest wherever Islamists pose a threat. 'I do not intend to harm or disturb anyone. I am trying to raise awareness in society about the concept of Islamic invasion and threat.'
