UPDATE: 2/5/26 at 2:40 a.m. ET — Canadian singer Tate McRae appeared to hit again at backlash after showing in an advert selling Staff USA’s 2026 Winter Olympics staff.
The pop star shared a childhood picture of herself holding up a Canadian flag to her Instagram Tales on Wednesday, February 4. “… Y’all know I’m Canada down,” the “Run for the Hills” singer wrote over the picture.
Unique story:
Singer Tate McRae is simply as excited for the 2026 Winter Olympics as the remainder of us — however not everyone is a fan of how she’s expressing it.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are formally right here — and Staff USA is arriving in Italy with star energy, storylines and sky-high expectations. Because the world’s greatest athletes descend on Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, all eyes are on the People: from Ilia Malinin’s can’t-miss second in males’s determine skating to Mikaela Shiffrin’s long-awaited redemption tour on (…)
McRae, who was born in Canada, starred in an advert for NBC Sports activities selling Staff USA launched on Tuesday, February 3.
“I’m making an attempt to get to Milan for a tremendous Opening Ceremony and meet Staff USA,” the pop star, 22, tells a snowy owl within the industrial.
McRae continues, “It’s the weekend with America’s greatest skating for gold and Lindsey Vonn’s epic comeback.”
The 2026 Winter Olympics kick off with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, February 6, the identical day that staff determine skating competitors begins. Vonn, in the meantime, is scheduled to hit the slopes on Sunday, February 8, regardless of struggling a torn ACL after a crash in Switzerland final week.
The choice for McRae to assist Staff USA didn’t sit effectively with some followers, who referred to as her out for abandoning her Canadian roots.
“Selling staff usa is definitely loopy… lady ur from calgary, u grew up going to the saddledome and the stampede, stop pretending ur from the nation that was threatening to annex us this time final 12 months 😭😭,” one individual wrote by way of X.
McRae was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and spent most of her upbringing within the province. She has lengthy supported the NHL’s Calgary Flames, who play on the Scotiabank Saddledome.
“Tate McRae, who’s from Calgary Alberta, is doing Olympic promos for Staff USA… extra like ‘Trait McRator’ AMIRITE!” an individual commented by way of X.
One other wrote“Tate mcrae doing a olympic advert for the usa is lame af but in addition why is a us community even selecting a canadian to endorse them?”
“Tate McRae doing a promo for NBC and Staff USA for the Olympics and never Canada has me a bit unhappy however okay,” a dejected fan stated.
McRae showing within the advert won’t be fully random, nevertheless, because the “Sports activities Automobile” singer has not too long ago been linked to New Jersey Devils star Jack Hugheswho will characterize Staff USA in Italy.
McRae and Hughes, 24, have been noticed collectively in New York Metropolis in December 2025 after she attended considered one of his dwelling video games.
Hughes mentioned coping with an elevated stage of fame throughout an unique interview with Us Weekly final month.
“The primary factor I give attention to is my sport,” Hughes stated. “That’s the half I’ve essentially the most enjoyable with. Clearly there’s a variety of issues that include it. However essentially the most enjoyable factor is to exit to a sold-out rink, ball out and play effectively. That’s crucial factor for me.”
He added, “All the opposite stuff is sweet, it comes on the facet in case you’re enjoying effectively. You kinda acquired to place the cart earlier than the horse. I’m fortunate to be within the place that I’m in. Essentially the most enjoyable I’ve is on the ice.”
Hughes and the Staff USA males’s hockey staff will start their quest for gold in Italy in opposition to Latvia on February 12.