Tate McRae claps back at Backlash for joining Team USA in the Olympics
UPDATE: 2/5/26 at 2:40 AM ET – Canadian singer Tate McRae appeared to address backlash after appearing in an ad promoting Team USA’s 2026 Winter Olympics team.
The pop star shared a childhood photo of herself holding up a Canadian flag Instagram stories on Wednesday, February 4. “…Y’all know I’m Canada,” the “Run for the Hills” singer wrote over the image.
Original story:
Singer Tate McRae is as excited about the 2026 Winter Olympics as the rest of us – but not everyone is a fan of the way she puts it.
McRae, born in Canada, starred in an advertisement for NBC Sports released to promote Team USA on Tuesday, February 3.
“I’m trying to come to Milan for a great opening ceremony and meet Team USA,” the 22-year-old pop star tells a snowy owl in the commercial.
McRae continues: “It’s the weekend with America’s best skaters for gold and Lindsey Vonn‘s epic comeback.”
The 2026 Winter Olympics will begin with the opening ceremony on Friday, February 6, the same day the team figure skating competition begins. Vonn, meanwhile, will hit the slopes on Sunday, February 8, despite suffering a torn cruciate ligament after a crash in Switzerland last week.
McRae’s decision to support Team USA did not sit well with some fans, who called her out for abandoning her Canadian roots.
“Promoting Team USA is actually crazy… girl you’re from Calgary, you grew up with the saddle dome and the stampede, stop pretending you’re from the country that threatened to annex us this time last year 😭😭,” one person wrote via X.
McRae was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and spent most of her upbringing in the province. She has long supported the NHL’s Calgary Flames, who play at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
“Tate McRae, native of Calgary Alberta, does Olympic promos for Team USA… more like ‘Trait McRator’ AMIRITE!” one person commented via X.
Another one wrote“Tate Mcrae doing an Olympic ad for the US is boring, but why does an American network even choose a Canadian to support them?”
“Tate McRae is doing a promo for NBC and Team USA for the Olympics and not Canada which makes me a little sad but ok,” says one dejected fan said.
McRae appearing in the ad may not be entirely random, as the “Sports Car” singer has recently been linked to the New Jersey Devils star Jack Hugheswho will represent Team USA in Italy.
McRae and Hughes, 24, were spotted together in New York City in December 2025 after attending one of his home games.
Hughes discussed dealing with an increased level of fame during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly last month.
“The main thing I focus on is my game,” Hughes said. “That is the part that I enjoy the most. There are of course many things involved. But the most fun is going to a sold-out ice rink, having a ball and playing well. That is the most important thing for me.”
He added: “Everything else is good, it comes with playing well. You have to put the cart before the horse. I’m lucky to be in the position I’m in. The most fun I have is on the ice.”
Hughes and the Team USA men’s hockey team will begin their quest for gold in Italy against Latvia on February 12.
