Canadian singer Tate McRae faces backlash for promoting Team USA

February 5, 2026

Canadian singer Tate McRae sparked controversy among her fellow citizens by appearing in an NBC promotional advertisement supporting Team USA for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The Calgary-born artist drew criticism on social media, with some Canadians calling her participation "infuriating" during a period of heightened tensions between the two countries over Trump's tariffs and rhetoric about Canada becoming America's 51st state. McRae defended herself by posting a childhood photo with a Canadian flag and the caption affirming her Canadian identity.

Who is affected

Tate McRae (Canadian pop star facing backlash)
Canadian citizens and fans who criticized the video
Team USA (promoted in the video)
NBC (broadcaster running the promotional campaign)
Jordan Cicchelli (Toronto-based sports writer who commented)
Courtney Shea (Canadian culture journalist who wrote about it)
Blaine Badiuk (Alberta resident who defended McRae)
Dua Lipa (another non-American celebrity promoting Team USA)

What action is being taken

McRae is appearing in NBC's promotional video for Team USA
NBC is running the video to promote their opening ceremony broadcast and Olympics coverage
Canadians are boycotting American liquor and reducing travel to the US
McRae is promoting her song "Nobody's Girl" through the advertisement
Canadians are criticizing McRae on social media

Why it matters

This incident matters because it occurs during a sensitive period of strained US-Canada relations, with President Trump imposing tariffs on Canadian goods and repeatedly suggesting Canada should become the 51st state. The backlash reflects heightened Canadian patriotism and anti-American sentiment in response to these political tensions. McRae's participation in promoting Team USA is seen by some as a betrayal of her Canadian identity, highlighting broader questions about national loyalty, celebrity influence, and cultural identity during times of international friction.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC