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The woman was captured reacting to the opening ceremony held in Toronto on June 12 and questioned why an “Indian” was opening a ceremony in Canada
People were quick to point her out that Nora Fatehi is not Indian but Canadian of Moroccan origin (Image: X/@WallStreetApes)
Nora Fatehi, a Canadian-born Bollywood actress and singer, grabbed attention all over the world with her performance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup held at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, on June 12.
Performing her hit song SIIR SIIR alongside DJ Sanjoy and French singer Vegedream, she delivered an energetic set that quickly went viral and even helped her become the most Googled Bollywood personality.
Days after the ceremony, a clip has been going viral on social media, in which a Canadian woman was seen furiously asking why an “Indian” opened the ceremony at the prestigious global sporting event.
“How Is This Our Opening Ceremony?”
The woman, dressed in a red T-shirt and black baseball cap, was captured reacting to the opening ceremony that was being played on a television behind her. Expressing her frustration, she questioned why an artist associated with Indian entertainment was featured during Canada’s portion of the tournament’s opening celebrations. “Can someone please f—g explain to me please how this is Canada’s opening ceremony?” she asked.
In the clip, which has garnered over 4 lakh views since it was posted, the woman argued that the performance did not reflect what she considered Canadian culture. She said, “Last time I checked, we’re Canadian. We’re not Indian. That’s not English. We don’t speak Punjabi. We are not Indians. This is Canada. How is this our opening ceremony?”
The clip then cut to an AI-generated overview, which revealed that indigenous dancers (First Nations, Inuit, Metis), alongside Nora Fatehi and other performers, performed at the opening ceremony in Canada.
Internet Informs Her That Nora Fatehi Isn’t Indian
The video has since sparked a debate online, with many pointing out to the woman that Nora isn’t Indian but a Canadian of Moroccan origin.
“I can understand the outrage, but the funny thing is that Nora Fatehi is not even Indian, she is Canadian of Moroccan descent who by chance works in Indian film industry. Also, I couldn’t see any Indian dancers or Indian related dances. Indians get dragged for nothing all the time,” said one person.
“You guys are stupid. It’s a World Cup, not a Canada Cup. Mexico opening had a Spanish singer and a Nigerian. America’s opening was done by Tyla from South Africa. They featured in the FIFA album. It’s not a random English-speaking person,” quipped someone else.
Canada citizens are furious over their FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony being in Indian, full of Indians doing Indian dancesMultiple singers all sang in foreign languages
“Can someone please f*cking explain to me, please — how this is Canada’s opening f*cking ceremony? Last… pic.twitter.com/ibhXXKgCbp
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) June 20, 2026
A different individual said, “Lol dumbf–s! That’s Nora Fatehi, a Bollywood celebrity who was born and raised in Toronto (Jane and Finch), and later moved to Mumbai. Her ethnicity is Moroccan!”
A user pointed out, “The woman you’re unhinged about is Nora Faheti: she was born IN Toronto, is NOT Indian & didn’t sing in Hindi but did in English. Also, Jesse Reyez, Alessia Cara, Alanis Morissette, and Michael Bublé are all Canadians who performed! So what’s the problem?”
Meanwhile, one person said, “I’m Canadian, and this doesn’t bother me in the least. It’s the World Cup – they are welcoming the world to Canada – doesn’t have to be traditional Canadian music – in my opinion.”
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A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
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