[3] It received negative reviews from critics, with the music video sparking controversy due to her intentional blackfishing and cultural appropriation.

Nelson's performance at the 2021 Jingle Bell Ball was widely mocked by viewers and yielded numerous internet memes that were circulated across social media.

The track was written by Nelson, Minaj, Oladayo Olatunji, Hanni Ibrahim, Abby Keen, Amanda Atoui, and Avital and produced by the duo Loose Change (Patrick Jordan-Patrikios and Sunny)[9] "Boyz" has been variously described as either sampling[8][7][2] or interpolating[10][11] Diddy's 2001 song "Bad Boy for Life".

The Guardian writer Laura Snapes gave it two-out-of-five stars, finding the song derivative and dated, concluding: "The long-awaited debut is a farrago of incomprehensible lyrics and queasy tropes that undermines her [Nelson's] self-help journey".

[12] Roisin O'Connor of The Independent wrote that "Boyz" is "a terrible song on which a barely comprehensible Nelson sings like Britney Spears doing TLC karaoke, lisping and gasping her way around a sample of Diddy's 'Bad Boy For Life'.

"[13] Rolling Stone India listed it among the worst songs of 2021, saying that it's "probably the dumbest debut single by any boy or girl group member to depart their respective band".

Raven Smith of Vogue noted that Nelson's skin tone looked "unnaturally, un-genetically tanned" and that she was "parroting the aesthetics of Blackness".

[18] The Guardian writer Mikki Kendall said that Nelson "will dispose of her Black costume when it no longer serves her" and that she "exemplifies the exact attitude that makes this type of racist cosplay so desirable.

"[19] In an Instagram Live, Nelson said furthermore that her "intention was never ever to offend people of colour with the video" and that she instead wanted to "celebrate 90's R&B because that era of music is what I love."

[21] British TV presenter Charlene White, of Jamaican descent, called Nelson and Minaj's explanation of the video "embarrassing".

The performances resulted in a number of memes being spread on various social media platforms mocking Jesy after she screamed “Are you ready” followed by repeated jolting shoulder arm movements and a voice in the crowd responding “No we’re not”.