Tate McRae, the Calgary-born pop star, found herself at the center of Canadian anger not for anything she did, but for who she’s rumored to be dating: Jack Hughes.
McRae has openly supported Hughes throughout the NHL season, including attending his first game back in December after he returned from a serious finger injury.
Canadian fans took to social media with a mix of humor and genuine frustration:“I blame Tate McRae,” one fan wrote.“This is somehow Tate McRae’s fault,” another commented.“Deport Tate McRae I never liked her anyways,” one posted.
This isn’t the first time McRae has faced backlash during these Olympics. Even before the tournament began, some Canadian fans were disappointed when she appeared in NBCUniversal’s promotion for the 2026 Games cheering for Team USA.
Now, fans are watching her Instagram activity closely, waiting to see whether the Canadian pop star will publicly celebrate Hughes’ game-winning goal or stay silent after her home country’s heartbreaking loss.
Sports fandom is irrational. We know this. But blaming a pop star for her boyfriend’s golden goal might be a new level of absurdity.
McRae didn’t lace up skates. She didn’t take the ice. She just happened to be dating the guy who broke a nation’s heart.
Tate McRae is a Canadian treasure until her boyfriend beats Canada in Olympic hockey. Then she’s public enemy number one.
The internet is a strange place. And Olympic heartbreak makes it stranger.