Tate McRae is the cover star of Rolling Stone’s January 2026 issue. The Tit for Tat hitmaker opened up to the publication about her frustrations with the media, who have a problem when she puts herself out there.“People always want girls to put themselves out there. And the second they do, they get ripped apart for it. I was feeling sexual and confident for the first time in my life, and then I would release something and feel sexualized, and feel like all of my work and effort was taken away from me.”She added:“The scrutiny towards women is getting worse and worse. It’s just wild that people pay so much attention to us, girls, for little things that a man wouldn’t be scrutinized for.”She expressed anger at how they focus on her physical appearance rather than the message she’s trying to pass across with her music.“And they’re not thinking about the great things that are happening onstage. They’re not thinking about their vocals, or the way that they’re performing or putting themselves out there or being vulnerable, spreading a very specific message.”She added:“They’re thinking about what shorts they’re wearing, or what their makeup looks like, and that’s annoying.”More details on Tate McRae’s interview with Rolling StoneIn the exclusive cover story with Rolling Stone published on Thursday, December 12, Tate McRae discussed several topics, including her recent success, alter ego, and upcoming deluxe album.The singer pointed out the difference between Tate McRae and her alter ego, Tatiana.“It’s so funny,” she says. “Tate is this very introspective, very sensitive, very introverted, awkward Canadian. Maybe more on the shy side. I’m observant, and I feel very internal, all the time.”She added:“And then, this persona that I’ve created is my way of being this confident pop girl. The contrast between the two is such a great way of showing how a person can be so multifaceted.”The You Broke Me First hitmaker also spoke about her breakup with Kid Laroi, which she confirmed in June. Following the release of Tit for Tat, fans believed it was a response to Laroi’s A Cold Play, which he released months earlier. Tate McRae confirmed that there was no correlation.“It was really scary and overwhelming. I would never talk that way, even about my friends’ lives. I didn’t realize how much it would affect me, the public knowing my private life, because no one knows the full story of anything, ever. I also hate people painting a situation that’s worse than it is.”Tate McRae added:“But what I’ve had to realize is that he’s going to write songs and I’m going to write songs, and that’s our way of expressing ourselves. That’s our art, that’s our job. And once it’s out there, it’s not mine anymore.”Also read: How did Taylor Swift create her handwritten thank-you notes for the Eras Tour team?