Former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau decided to stay in the United States to watch his girlfriend, pop superstar Katy Perry, perform at the first World Cup match in Los Angeles. He missed Canada’s 1‑1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, instead backing the U.S. team that beat Paraguay 4‑1.
In a short on‑screen post he said, “Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call. But you know who I’m rooting for to take the Cup,” and added a Canadian flag emoji. The message was brief but the backlash was swift.
A Twitter user from Toronto called the decision “a slap in the face of this country,” while other comments labeled Trudeau a “traitor” and a “fraud.” The clip of Perry greeting him on stage and the pair’s playful moments were shared widely on social media.
The drama comes after the couple announced their relationship in December following months of speculation. Trudeau, formerly married to TV host Sophie Grégoire, has three children, while Perry was previously married to comedian Russell Brand.
The World Cup kicked off on June 12, with the U.S. match starting at 21:00 EDT and Canada’s game at 15:00 EDT—a six‑hour gap that allowed Trudeau to attend the U.S. kickoff.
