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Canadian pop star Tate McRae is responding after finding herself at the center of online backlash over her involvement in a promotional ad for Team USA ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
McRae, 22, addressed the criticism on Wednesday, February 4, by sharing a throwback photo on her Instagram Stories. The image showed a young McRae proudly holding a Canadian flag, accompanied by the caption, "...y'all know I'm Canada down," seemingly reaffirming her loyalty to her home country.
The reaction came after NBC Sports released a commercial earlier this week promoting its coverage of the upcoming Winter Games, which kick off with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, February 6. In the ad, McRae appears in a snowy setting on skis, chatting with a CGI owl while enthusiastically describing her plan to attend the Opening Ceremony in Milan and cheer on Team USA athletes.
"I'm trying to get to Milan for an amazing Opening Ceremony and meet Team USA," McRae says in the spot, later referencing elite figure skating events and alpine skier Lindsey Vonn's highly anticipated return to competition.
While the commercial was meant to generate excitement for the Games, it didn't land smoothly with all viewers. Some fans accused McRae of turning her back on Canada, pointing out her Calgary upbringing and long-standing ties to Canadian sports culture. Several social media users questioned why a Canadian artist was chosen to promote an American Olympic team, with others expressing disappointment rather than outrage.
McRae was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, and has frequently spoken about her love for the city. She has also been a visible supporter of the NHL's Calgary Flames, who play at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Despite the criticism, there may be a personal connection behind her Team USA appearance. McRae has recently been linked to New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, who is expected to represent the United States in men's hockey during the
Games. The two were spotted together in New York City in December 2025 after McRae attended one of Hughes' games.
Hughes and Team USA are set to begin their Olympic journey against Latvia on February 12, continuing what is expected to be one of the most closely watched tournaments of the Games.
