Canadian pop star Tate McRae faced criticism over a new NBC Olympics ad that she and NBC shared. The ad shows McRae seeking help from an owl on a snowy mountain to attend the opening ceremony in Milan and support Team USA, not Team Canada. McRae highlights America’s best skating for gold and Lindsey Vonn’s comeback before mentioning the Super Bowl 60. The ad also features McRae’s latest single, “Nobody’s Girl.”
Following the ad’s release, Canadians expressed disappointment on social media about McRae, a Calgary native, endorsing the American team. This backlash came shortly after McRae was announced as a leading nominee at the upcoming Juno Awards alongside Justin Bieber.
Despite the backlash, McRae responded by sharing a childhood photo of herself holding a Canadian flag on Instagram, affirming her loyalty to Canada. The ad sparked discussions on platforms like TikTok, with some questioning McRae’s choice to support Team USA over her home country.
While some fans praised the ad as a milestone in McRae’s career, others echoed the sentiment of disappointment. This incident parallels a previous backlash involving British pop star Dua Lipa in an NBC Olympics ad that promoted American athletes. CBC Music has reached out to McRae’s team for comment on the matter.