Justin Trudeau is proving that even former prime ministers aren’t immune to relationship obligations. After drawing criticism for skipping Canada’s opening World Cup match, the former Canadian leader had a tongue-in-cheek explanation for fans upset over his absence: “supportive boyfriend duties.” It seems like his fans had a supportive reaction, whereas others had a very unexpected reaction on X (formerly Twitter)
Justin Trudeau reveals why he didn’t attend Canada’s World Cup game
Justin Trudeau took to social media after facing backlash for attending the United States’ opening World Cup game in Los Angeles, where his girlfriend, pop superstar Katy Perry, performed during the pre-match festivities. “Sometimes supportive boyfriend duties call. But you know who I’m rooting for to take the Cup,” he wrote alongside a Canadian flag emoji. The opening matches in Toronto and Los Angeles were held just hours apart. While Canada kicked off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto at 3 p.m. EDT, Trudeau was spotted at SoFi Stadium watching the United States defeat Paraguay 4-1 later that evening.
Television cameras repeatedly caught Perry and Trudeau enjoying together. Following her performance, the “Dark Horse” singer was seen rushing offstage to greet the former prime minister with a kiss. Throughout the match, the couple appeared in broadcast shots sharing drinks and cozy moments in the stands, prompting plenty of chatter online. Not everyone back home appreciated the display. Some Canadians criticized Trudeau for missing Canada’s first World Cup match, with several users on X labeling him a “traitor” and a “fraud.” One Toronto-based commenter wrote, “Any Canadian who chooses to cheer the US over Canada is a traitor… You sold your soul.”
Perry helped kick off the tournament in the United States with a performance of “Wonder,” a track from her 2024 album 143. Ahead of the ceremony, she told People magazine that she selected the relatively lesser-known song because it felt particularly fitting for the occasion. Trudeau and Perry have been publicly linked since July 2025 and officially confirmed their relationship with a joint Instagram post in December. Despite the backlash, Trudeau’s playful response made one thing clear: while he may have missed Canada’s first match, his loyalty to Team Canada remains intact, even if boyfriend duties occasionally come first.
