Alberta native Tate McRae faced backlash recently for her appearance in a promotional video for the 2026 U.S. Winter Olympics team. The 22-year-old musician was criticized on social media for seemingly favoring the United States over Canada. Responding on Instagram, McRae shared a childhood photo holding a Canadian flag, asserting her loyalty to her home country.
In the NBC ad, McRae is shown on a mountain in a red ski outfit, engaging with an owl in the Olympic co-host city of Cortina. She mentions her excitement about attending the opening ceremony in Milan, meeting Team USA, and watching American athletes compete for gold, including Lindsey Vonn.
Criticism of McRae’s involvement in the ad surfaced on social media, with Canadian actor Jack Innanen labeling her actions as unpatriotic. Pop culture commentator Liz Duff highlighted the strained relations between Canada and the U.S., citing political tensions and trade disputes as contributing factors to the public reaction.
McRae, originally from Calgary, had previously cultivated an image tied to Canadian culture through her music and public appearances. Despite now residing in Los Angeles, her strong connections to her Canadian roots had set certain expectations among her fans.
Duff noted the generational aspect of the controversy, pointing out that McRae and her critics, like Innanen, belong to a demographic with significant influence in shaping pop culture trends. The incident underscores a broader shift in how Gen Z individuals navigate national loyalties in the current socio-political climate.
Tate McRae’s management team declined to comment on the situation when approached by CBC News.
