Tate McRae has become the center of online conversation following the release of a new NBCUniversal promotional spot tied to the 2026 Winter Olympics and Super Bowl LX. The commercial, unveiled on February 3, features the Canadian pop star prominently promoting Team USA as part of NBC’s “Legendary February” campaign. This move left many fans confused and vocal across social media.
The ad places McRae in a snowy Italian Alps setting ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games. In a lighthearted sequence, she jokes with a snowy owl while searching for Milan. Then she pivots to hyping the Opening Ceremony, U.S. Figure Skating, and Lindsey Vonn’s highly publicized return to competition. The spot also seamlessly transitions to promoting Super Bowl LX.
What sparked the backlash was not the tone or production of the commercial, but McRae’s role within it. Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, the singer has long been publicly associated with Team Canada. This makes her visible alignment with Team USA feel jarring to some viewers. On X and Instagram, fans questioned why a Canadian artist was positioned as a spokesperson for American athletes. Some jokingly accused her of “switching sides” or “betraying” her home country.
Leave a Reply