Canadian pop star Tate McRae has recently faced significant backlash after appearing in an NBC promotional advertisement for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she expressed support for Team USA. In the ad, McRae, clad in red ski gear, interacts with a CGI owl, stating her excitement to meet Team USA and highlighting American athletes like Lindsey Vonn. This endorsement has sparked criticism from Canadian fans, who feel that McRae, being Calgary-born, should support Team Canada. (foxnews.com)
Social media platforms have been abuzz with reactions. One user commented, "Girl, we are Canadian, we do NOT cheer for team USA at winter sports, especially during times like these!!!" (aol.com) Another remarked, "Tate McRae, who is from Calgary Alberta, is doing Olympic promos for Team USA… more like 'Trait McRator' AMIRITE!" (foxnews.com)
In response to the criticism, McRae shared a childhood photo of herself holding a Canadian flag on Instagram Stories, captioning it, "…y'all know I'm Canada down." (aol.com)
This incident underscores the complexities artists face when navigating national identities, especially in the context of international events like the Olympics. While McRae's collaboration with NBC aims to promote the Games, it has inadvertently ignited a conversation about national loyalty and the expectations placed on public figures regarding their heritage.