Tate McRae Responds to Criticism Over Olympics Ad

The Canadian singer faced backlash for appearing in an ad hyping Team USA during the Winter Olympics.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Tate McRae, a proud Canadian singer, faced criticism from fans after appearing in an ad for NBC's Winter Olympics coverage that hyped up Team USA. McRae subtly responded to the backlash on social media, posting a photo of herself as a child holding a Canadian flag and captioning it "...y'all know I'm Canada down."

Why it matters

As a Canadian artist, McRae's appearance in an ad supporting the U.S. Olympic team during a major international sporting event was seen by some as a betrayal of her national identity. The criticism highlights the intense patriotism and national pride that often surrounds the Olympics, especially for athletes and public figures from the host country.

The details

After posting the NBC Olympics ad on her Instagram, McRae faced a barrage of comments from fans accusing her of being unpatriotic and a "traitor" to Canada. Some comments referred to her as "Traitre McRae" ("Traitor McRae") and said her ad was an act of "treason." McRae responded by sharing a photo of herself as a child holding a Canadian flag, captioning it to affirm her Canadian identity.

  • On February 5, 2026, Tate McRae posted the NBC Olympics ad on her Instagram account.

The players

Tate McRae

A Canadian singer who faced backlash from fans for appearing in an ad supporting Team USA during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

NBC

The American television network that aired coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics and featured Tate McRae in an ad.

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The takeaway

This incident highlights the strong national pride and loyalty that many Canadians feel towards their home country, especially during major international sporting events like the Olympics. As a prominent Canadian artist, Tate McRae's appearance in an ad supporting the U.S. Olympic team was seen by some as a betrayal of her national identity, sparking a backlash that she ultimately responded to by reaffirming her Canadian roots.