Tate McRae's red-hot Victoria's Secret Fashion Show performance has prompted a pointed response from fans who believe some critics are missing the point of a lingerie runway. After the singer took to the stage in a revealing red ensemble, one supporter delivered a blunt defence: 'It's a lingerie show. Not the opera.'
The Canadian pop star performed her hit 'Sports Car' at the 18 October 2026 event in Los Angeles, where music and fashion came together for the brand's annual spectacle. While some social media users questioned the show's increasingly revealing presentation, others praised McRae's looks and talent, making the contrasting reactions part of the online conversation.
Tate Takes the Stage
McRae was among the performers at this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, joining an all-women musical lineup that also featured Katseye, Megan Moroney and Megan Thee Stallion. Her performance of 'Sports Car' brought her music to a runway event known for combining lingerie, elaborate styling and live entertainment.
Footage shared on the fashion brand's social media showed McRae commanding the stage in red lingerie as the audience watched. Her appearance fitted the show's bold aesthetic, although the revealing styling became a talking point for viewers who preferred a more restrained approach to the production.
Fans Fire Back at Critics
One social media commenter defended the singer with a question: 'Why we mad at beautiful people?' The same supporter added, 'It's a lingerie show. Not the opera', before describing McRae as 'gorgeous and talented'.
The response offered a straightforward argument in the singer's favour: a lingerie fashion show is expected to feature revealing outfits, and a performer should not automatically be criticised for appearing in one. It also shifted attention towards McRae's talent rather than treating her clothing as the defining feature of the performance.
Viewers Want More Elegance
Not everyone responding to the show was impressed by its presentation. One commenter asked, 'Why does every show have to be a strip show these days!?' before calling for 'class and elegance' to return.
Other viewers questioned whether the event still resembled a traditional fashion show, with one asking, 'This is a fashion show?' Another reminisced about a time when the production was supposedly more classy. These comments reflect individual preferences about the brand's image, rather than proof that viewers broadly rejected McRae or her performance.
Nicole Kidman Among the High-Profile Guests
Nicole Kidman was also among the famous faces attending the Los Angeles show, where she sat beside Vanessa Bryant. Bryant's daughter Natalia walked the runway in embellished jeans, adding another celebrity connection to an evening filled with high-profile guests.
Kidman wore a crisp white button-down shirt with a striped tie and a lingerie-inspired skirt, creating a business-inspired look that contrasted with the show's more daring stage styling. Footage from the event captured her reacting to McRae's performance, although the available description does not establish that she disapproved of what she saw.
A Show Built for Spectacle
Victoria's Secret had promised a bigger and bolder production for 2026, with executive Adam Selman describing the event as 'Fandemonium'. The show moved to Los Angeles after organisers said they could not find a suitable New York venue for everything they wanted to include.
The runway also featured returning models including Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Alex Consani, Paloma Elsesser and Abby Champion. Kylie Jenner attracted attention by wearing the brand's $50 million Fantasy Bra, described as the most expensive accessory of its kind in the company's history.
Fans See More Than Lingerie
The disagreement over McRae's performance reflects two different expectations of the Victoria's Secret show. Some viewers want the event to return to what they remember as a more elegant presentation, while her supporters argue that revealing clothing is hardly unexpected at a lingerie-focused production.
Another commenter questioned why the performance was acceptable when Sydney Sweeney's commercial had drawn criticism, raising a comparison without establishing that the situations were equivalent. For McRae's defenders, however, the central point was simpler: the singer was there to perform, and her outfit should not overshadow her music or talent.
