Tate McRae Responds to Backlash Over Team USA Ad Despite Canadian Roots

Tate McRae, a Canadian singer, drew confusion from some fans after appearing in an NBC Olympics advertisement for Team USA, despite her Canadian background.

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, McRae addressed the reaction on her Instagram Story, sharing a childhood photo of herself holding a small Canadian flag. She wrote, "... y'all know I'm Canada down."

The advertisement, released a day earlier, features McRae skiing and encountering a white owl. In the spot, she asks the owl for directions to the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Italy.

"I'm trying to get to Milan for an amazing opening ceremony, or meet Team USA," McRae says in the ad. "Then it's the weekend with America's best skating for gold and Lindsey Vonn's epic comeback. Then back to the States for the Big Game: Super Bowl LX."

After posting the ad on Instagram, McRae received numerous comments from Canadian followers questioning her appearance in a campaign for Team USA. "Ur Canadian but promoting America for the Olympics? This is so disappointing," one commenter wrote. Another said, "Girl you're Canadian, what is this?"

The opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock. This year's event is set to include performances by Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli.

McRae is not the only non-American artist featured in NBC's promotions for Team USA. Dua Lipa and Cynthia Erivo, both British performers, have also appeared in advertisements supporting the U.S. team.