Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian pop star Tate McRae has sparked online criticism after featuring in a new NBC Olympics promotional ad that highlights Team USA, drawing disappointment from some fans in Canada.
The advertisement, released on Wednesday and shared by both McRae and NBC, shows the Calgary-born singer on a snowy mountain asking an owl for help getting to Milan for the Olympic opening ceremony — not to support Team Canada, but Team USA.
In the ad, McRae references major American sporting events, saying, “It’s the weekend with America’s best skating for gold, and Lindsey Vonn’s epic comeback,” before adding, “Then back to the States for the big game, Super Bowl 60.” The promo also features her latest single, “Nobody’s Girl.”
The campaign triggered swift reactions on social media, particularly from Canadian fans, coming just days after McRae was named a leading nominee at the 2026 Juno Awards, alongside fellow Canadian star Justin Bieber.
Toronto-based sports creator Jordan Cicchelli expressed disappointment on X, writing that seeing McRae promote the American Olympic team instead of Canada was “a bit sad.” Independent outlet Made in Canada also questioned why the singer was backing Team USA.
The issue was further debated on Virgin Radio Toronto, where hosts Daryn Jones and Deepa Prashad questioned the choice. “Why is she celebrating American athletes?” Prashad asked, while Jones pointed out that the Olympics were once hosted in McRae’s hometown of Calgary. Prashad went on to ask whether the ad made McRae a “sellout.”
However, not all reactions were negative. Several fans defended the singer, viewing the appearance as a sign of her growing global stature. One fan posted on X, “Tate McRae doing promo for the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics — the Canadian princess of pop is here.”
This is not the first time an international artist has faced scrutiny over NBC Olympics promotions. In November, British pop star Dua Lipa drew similar reactions after appearing in an NBC ad spotlighting American athletes, including Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin, Alysa Liu, and Chloe Kim.
