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Canadian-born pop singer Tate McRae appeared in an NBC commercial for the Milan Cortina Olympics, in which she voiced her support for the American team. McRae was born in Calgary, Alberta in 2003, and attended high school there. However, she made a career in music in the United States.
In the commercial, McRae is seen talking to an owl and asking it how to get to Milan. She expressed excitement about watching American athletes, including Lindsey Vonn, and closed the event by promoting America’s game – the Super Bowl.
“I’m trying to go to Milan for an amazing opening ceremony and meet Team USA. I’m going to spend the week with some of America’s best, skating for gold and Lindsey Vonn’s epic comeback. And back to the States for the big game, Super Bowl LX,” she said in the commercial.
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McRae’s support of the United States in the ad drew criticism from Canadians on social media.
One user referenced President Donald Trump’s previous suggestion that Canada become the 51st U.S. state.
“Every year I feel more justified in my dislike of her. Girl, why are you advertising for Team USA after that country threatened to annex your current home country of Canada? Traitor s—,” the user wrote.
One user wrote: “Not the girl born and raised in Canada, promoting Team USA and wearing all red, considering the state of the USA and everything Trump said about Canada… I guess a paycheck is a paycheck? It’s so embarrassing. »
Tate McRae at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards held at the Dolby Theater on April 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images)
Another user wrote: “Tate McRae from Calgary, Alberta is doing Olympic promos for Team USA… more like ‘Trait McRator’ AMIRITE!”
Some Americans and Canadians defended the ascendant pop star in the face of backlash,
“The tweets are full of woke Canadians attacking her as a traitor for promoting Team USA. Tate McRae is the model immigrant. This is what assimilation looks like. She is part of our melting pot. Take your anti-American xenophobia elsewhere,” one user wrote on a collage of critiques against McRae.
Another user wrote: “Selling for the US is the most Alberta thing she can do to be fair. »
Tensions between the United States and Canada are historically higher than at previous Winter Olympics, due to Trump’s proposal to annex the country and the imposition of tariffs on Canadian products entering the United States last year.
This year’s Winter Games could see fans from both countries booing each other’s national anthems, as well as potential brawls at hockey games, as was the case during the NHL’s 4-nation showdown last January.
US OLYMPIAN EXPOSES AFTER TEAM CANADA WITHDRAWAL PREVENTS THEM FROM QUALIFYING FOR MILAN-CORTINA
Several athletes competing for the upcoming U.S. Olympic women’s ice hockey team have said they do. willing to engage in physical combat with Canadian players if necessary.
American women’s hockey star Caroline Harvey said she was ready to fight and even hear Canadians boo “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Games.
“It’s expected, especially against Canada,” Harvey told PK Press Club Digital of potential booing of the anthem at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee media summit in October. “They don’t like us that much. So it’s more motivating than anything and, personally, it fuels the fire and makes us want to, you know, beat them more than ever.
“I don’t like them either. They’re respectable competitors. They’re so good and always give us such a tough match. It’s so back and forth. But when we’re in the heat of battle, we always fight and don’t like them. … It gets personal sometimes.”
Veteran teammate Kendall Coyne Schofield, a mother of a toddler and self-described “a lover, not a fighter,” told PK Press Club Digital in October that she would fight if the situation called for it.
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“If I have to, I have to,” she said. “And I wouldn’t say I’m not a fighter in the sense that I’ve fought for a lot of things in life. But I would just say in general. Fighting is not a strength in my game. But if I’m out there and I have to, you know, help my teammates, I will. But you won’t find me starting the fight, I can tell you that.”
Meanwhile, in the skeleton competition, many Americans are outraged by the absence of five-time Olympian Katie Uhlaender at Milan Cortina, after it was discovered that Team Canada had manipulated an Olympic qualifier last month, preventing Uhlaender from being able to earn enough points to compete in this year’s Winter Games.
