Tate McRae recently sparked a wave of bewilderment among her followers after starring in an NBC promotional campaign for Team USA, despite the pop star being a born-and-bred Canadian.
The “Greedy” singer took to her Instagram Story on Wednesday (Feb. 4) to playfully address the online chatter. Sharing a nostalgic childhood photograph of herself clutching a miniature Maple Leaf flag, McRae reaffirmed her roots with a simple caption: “… y’all know I’m Canada down.”
The controversy stems from a high-energy commercial released just a day prior. In the spot, McRae is seen navigating snowy slopes on skis before crossing paths with a white owl, whom she asks for directions to the upcoming 2026 Winter Games in Italy.
“I’m trying to get to Milan for an amazing opening ceremony, or meet Team USA,” she remarks in the clip. She proceeds to highlight major upcoming events, including the American figure skating quest for gold, Lindsey Vonn’s anticipated comeback, and the transition back to the States for Super Bowl LX.
Immediately after the ad went live, McRae’s social media feeds were flooded with critiques from frustrated Canadian fans. “You’re Canadian but promoting America for the Olympics? This is so disappointing,” one commenter noted, while others expressed confusion over why she would represent a rival nation’s athletic program.
The 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony is set to air this Friday (Feb. 6) on NBC and Peacock, featuring headline performances by Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli.
While the backlash against McRae was swift, she is far from the first international superstar recruited by NBC to bolster support for the U.S. squad. The network has frequently tapped non-American talent for its campaigns, including British icons Dua Lipa and Cynthia Erivo, who have both fronted similar advertisements for Team USA in the past.
