Canadian Pop Star Tate McRae Features in NBC Promo for American Winter Olympics Team
Canadian singer-songwriter Tate McRae has sparked controversy after appearing in a promotional advertisement for NBC that hypes up American athletes for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The ad, which also references Super Bowl LX, has drawn significant negative reactions on social media platforms, with many Canadian fans expressing disappointment that the Calgary-born artist is promoting Team USA instead of her home country.
Ad Details and Creative Elements
In the commercial, McRae can be seen walking through a snowy landscape resembling the Italian Alps, wearing a vibrant red ski suit. The Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place in Milan Cortina, Italy. The ad features a whimsical interaction where McRae seeks directions from a talking snowy owl, creating a playful narrative that blends fantasy with sports promotion.
"Oh, hi! I'm a bit lost," McRae says to the owl while removing her ski helmet in slow motion. "I'm Tate McRae." When the owl responds with "Who?" she cleverly references her 2025 hit song by saying "Oh, I'm nobody. Nobody's Girl, that is," delivering the line with a wink to the camera.
Promotional Content and American Focus
The advertisement prominently features American athletes and events. McRae explicitly mentions wanting to "meet Team USA" and highlights the U.S. Figure Skating team's pursuit of gold medals. She also references skier Lindsay Vonn's anticipated comeback, despite Vonn recently tearing her ACL.
The commercial strategically positions the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, followed by initial competitions on Saturday, and culminates with Super Bowl LX on Sunday - all broadcasting on NBC networks in the United States. This creates a weekend-long sports spectacle that the ad promotes to American audiences.
Online Backlash and Canadian Disappointment
Reaction to McRae's involvement in the American-focused advertisement has been largely negative among Canadian social media users. Many have expressed confusion and disappointment about why a prominent Canadian artist would choose to promote American athletes rather than supporting Team Canada.
One user on X commented: "Tate McRae doing a promo for NBC and Team USA for the Olympics and not Canada has me a bit sad but okay." Another pointedly remarked: "Promoting Team USA is actually crazy ... girl ur from Calgary, u grew up going to the Saddledome and the Stampede, quit pretending ur from the country that was threatening to annex us this time last year."
Additional comments reflected similar sentiments, with users questioning: "Why is she not meeting Team Canada...." and advising: "Promoting Team USA, Tate remember your roots." The backlash highlights the complex dynamics of national identity in international sports marketing and celebrity endorsements.
Ad Conclusion and Cultural Nuances
The commercial concludes with an amusing cultural exchange between owls. After McRae gives up on getting directions from the snowy owl, a tawny-eagle owl asks its white counterpart what the singer wanted. The white owl responds in Italian: "I don't know. I don't speak English," adding a layer of international flavor to the advertisement's narrative.
This promotional spot represents a significant crossover between entertainment and sports marketing, leveraging McRae's popularity to engage viewers ahead of major sporting events. However, the choice to feature a Canadian artist promoting American teams has clearly struck a nerve with some of her home country fans, raising questions about celebrity endorsements in international competitions.
