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Tate McRae responds to backlash over Team USA Milan Olympics ad

Tate McRae’s Olympic commercial for Team USA has Canadians questioning her loyalty online, prompting the Calgary singer to address the backlash with a nostalgic Instagram story.

A young girl holding a Canadian flag, smiling, with a caption about Canada; a woman in a black dress at a formal event, showcasing Toronto's diverse culture and social scene.
Tate McRae addressed her Team USA commercial on social media. (Courtesy: @tatemcrae/Instagram)

What to know

  • Tate McRae is responding to backlash after appearing in an NBC commercial endorsing Team USA for the Milan Olympics, which sparked criticism from Canadians questioning her loyalty.
  • She addressed the criticism on Instagram, sharing a childhood photo holding a Canadian flag and writing she’s “Canada down,” signaling support for her home country amid the online backlash.
  • The reaction from Canadians has been harsh and meme-heavy, with commenters calling the ad an “ick,” jokingly reminding her she’s Canadian—and one Québec City radio station even dubbing her “Traître McRae.”

Canadian singer Tate McRae is responding to criticism over her Team USA commercial for the Milan Olympics. ​

On Wednesday evening, she shared a childhood photo of herself holding a Canadian flag on Instagram, writing that she’s “Canada down” to show support for her home country.

Her response comes as Canadians are criticizing her decision to be in an NBC commercial endorsing Team USA at the Milan Olympics, especially amidst political turmoil between the countries.

On Tuesday, she posted the ad on Instagram with the caption saying in part, “Go sports.”

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However, she’s receiving a lot of backlash for her decision to be in the commercial from Canadians. 

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And ironically enough, the 22-year-old’s birthday is on July 1, Canada Day. 

@nowtoronto Canadian artist Tate McRae endorses Team USA in latest Olympics ad #tatemcrae #olympics ♬ original sound – Now Toronto

An Instagram user commented on her Instagram post saying, “Babes you are Canadian lol,” jokingly reminding her of her roots.

Another user shared, “The absolute ick every Canadian just felt. In 2026… what were you and your team thinking?”

“A Québec City radio station just called her ‘Traître McRae,’ which translates to ‘Traitor McRae.’” Hahaa! I love it,” another user commented.

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