Canadian Pop Star Tate McRae Faces Frosty Reception at Home Over Team USA Olympics Promotion
Canadian-born pop sensation Tate McRae is experiencing a chilly response in her home country after enthusiastically promoting Team USA in a recent NBC advertisement for the upcoming Winter Olympics. The controversy highlights the delicate balance of national pride for celebrities with international careers.
Olympic Ad Sparks Controversy
On Tuesday, the 22-year-old singer shared an advertisement promoting NBC's broadcast coverage of Friday's opening ceremony at the Milan Cortina Games. McRae, whose album "So Close to What" debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart last year, appears in the clip wearing ski gear while asking a snowy owl for directions to what she calls the "amazing" ceremony so she can meet Team USA athletes.
The advertisement continues with McRae teasing NBC's comprehensive coverage, stating: "Then, it's the weekend with America's best skating for gold, and Lindsey Vonn's epic comeback. Then back to the States for the big game: Super Bowl 60." The promotional spot is soundtracked by McRae's single "Nobody's Girl" and features highlights of American athletes preparing for Olympic competition.
Canadian Critics Voice Displeasure
The singer's enthusiastic support for Team USA has not resonated well with several Canadian commentators and fans. Virgin Radio Toronto hosts Daryn Jones and Deepa Prashad addressed the controversy on their program, with Prashad questioning whether McRae had become a "sellout" for her promotional work.
"Do they not have an American who could be in that ad?" Prashad asked her co-host during their broadcast. Jones added pointedly: "The Olympics were in Calgary, your hometown, Tate McRae. Is there no national pride?"
Social Media Backlash Intensifies
Criticism extended beyond radio commentary to various social media platforms, where Canadian users expressed their disappointment with the Calgary-born performer. One Bluesky user described McRae as an "Albertan traitor," while another X user wrote: "Tate, a Calgary girl, is out here shilling for Team USA. Disappointing, fuck you girl."
The backlash comes despite McRae's established Canadian roots. Born in Calgary, Alberta, the singer has publicly identified as a fan of the city's NHL team, the Calgary Flames. She first gained significant attention in 2016 when she competed on the U.S. version of "So You Think You Can Dance," ultimately finishing in third place on the popular television program.
Career Context and Current Status
McRae, who described herself as a New York City resident last year, has built a successful international music career that spans both sides of the border. Her recent promotional work for NBC represents a significant professional opportunity, though it has clearly struck a nerve with some Canadian audiences who expect their homegrown stars to maintain visible national loyalty.
HuffPost has reached out to McRae's representatives for comment regarding the controversy, though no response has been made public at this time. The Winter Olympics competition officially began on Wednesday, with the opening ceremony scheduled for Friday at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy.
This incident underscores the complex relationship between celebrity, nationality, and commercial opportunities in the global entertainment industry, particularly when high-profile events like the Olympics bring national identities to the forefront of public discourse.
