Tate McRae has addressed the criticism she faced after collaborating with Morgan Wallen, making it clear that she prefers to let her actions speak louder than online discourse. In a new interview with Variety, the Canadian pop star reflected on being labeled “MAGA” by some social media users following the release of their chart-topping duet “What I Want.”
Asked about the backlash, Tate McRae responded by pointing to the causes she supports rather than engaging directly with criticism. “I like to say my piece through organizations I support and the environment that I have on tour. I think it’s pretty obvious what kind of person I am and the things I support. And I hope that my fans can see that through the things that I’m putting my energy towards.”
The comments revisit a conversation that first emerged in 2025 when McRae appeared on Wallen’s album I’m the Problem. Their collaboration, “What I Want,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Tate’s first chart-topper and Wallen’s fourth. The pop-country track also led the Hot Country Songs chart, and accumulated hundreds of millions of streams worldwide.
Despite its commercial success, the collaboration sparked criticism from a portion of McRae’s fanbase because of Wallen’s past controversies. Tate McRae previously addressed the reaction in a December 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, explaining that the decision was rooted in her longtime appreciation for country music, which she grew up around in Calgary. She also revealed that she had wanted to explore the genre for years and viewed the collaboration simply as an opportunity to record a song she believed in.
“It was just about the song for me,” she said at the time, adding that she did not regret participating and that navigating controversy had ultimately helped shape her perspective.
Tate McRae’s latest comments arrive during another career-defining moment. Just one day earlier, on August 2, she closed Lollapalooza Chicago as the festival’s final headliner, delivering a choreography-heavy performance that featured hits from her Billboard 200 No. 1 album So Close to What alongside Grammy-nominated single “Just Keep Watching.”
The production also introduced a striking new visual identity. Gold-themed graphics, ethereal imagery and a shimmering gold bodysuit fueled speculation that McRae is quietly laying the groundwork for her next musical era. Similar visuals first appeared during her Osheaga headline performance the previous night.
Leave a Reply