A recent NBC Olympics advertisement featuring Canadian singer Tate McRae caused a stir following its release by the artist and NBC. The ad shows McRae on a snowy mountain, seeking help from an owl to travel to Milan for the opening ceremony to meet Team USA instead of Team Canada. She mentions the excitement of watching America’s top skaters compete for gold and Lindsey Vonn’s return, followed by the Super Bowl 60 back in the States. The advertisement also highlights McRae’s latest single, “Nobody’s Girl.”
Canadian viewers expressed disappointment on social media about McRae, who hails from Calgary, endorsing the American team shortly after being named a top nominee at this year’s Juno Awards alongside Justin Bieber. Some questioned her support for Team USA, with Toronto-based sports content creator Jordan Cicchelli sharing his mixed feelings online.
Responding to the backlash, McRae posted a childhood photo holding a Canadian flag on her Instagram story, emphasizing her Canadian roots. A discussion on Virgin Radio Toronto’s TikTok account raised concerns about McRae’s choice to celebrate American athletes rather than showcasing national pride given her ties to Calgary.
While some fans criticized McRae’s endorsement of Team USA, others viewed it as a positive development in her career. The situation drew comparisons to a past incident involving British singer Dua Lipa featured in an NBC Olympics ad supporting American athletes. CBC Music has reached out to McRae’s team for a response regarding the controversy.
