"React" sees the return of Carmit Bachar who left the group before the release of their last album, Doll Domination (2008), although it does not feature Melody Thornton, who opted out of the reunion citing the desire to continue with her own solo music career.

A pulsating electropop and synthpop song, "React" is about a stagnant and turbulent relationship with lyrics that speak of wanting a more powerful reaction and excitement from one's lover.

The group debuted "React" during a medley performance of their previous singles on The X Factor: Celebrity on November 30, 2019, and shortly after confirmed a concert tour for 2020 which was then pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

An official music video was released on February 7, 2020, and features pyrotechnics and water, as well as a dance routine involving chairs, inspired by the 1983 movie Flashdance.

Just over a year after the song's release, "React" was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting 200,000 units shipped in the UK.

"React" is a pulsating electropop and synthpop song,[20][21] with a dance beat,[22] written by group lead singer Nicole Scherzinger, as well as Georgia Buchanan, Johan Gustafsson, William Simister and Hannah Wilson.

[23] Gustafsson is part of Swedish record production outfit Trinity Music who have previously worked with Pussycat Doll member Sutta.

"[19] "React" is themed around a turbulent relationship,[27] where the lyrics "play with an overly nice man's emotions in the hopes of eliciting a more... powerful reaction".

Meanwhile, to the far left, Wyatt wore a "low-cut leotard with huge shoulder pads and fishnet tights underneath" while Bachar appears on the far right with "strapless corset bodysuit and skintight pants.

[43] According to Brazilian website POPline, the group had recorded a remix in partnership with Brabo Music and featuring Pabllo Vittar for their appearance at São Paulo's LGBTIQA+ parade in 2020.

[44] "React" was debuted as part of a live medley performance on The X Factor: Celebrity finale on November 30, 2019, where the group the song alongside previous singles including "Buttons", "When I Grow Up" and "Don't Cha".

[49] Alongside the praise, 400 people complained to British media regulator Ofcom due to the "raunchy" nature of the performance and the group's decision to wear sheer PVC outfits on a family programme.

[50] On February 22, 2020, the group performed "React" for the second time on British Television as part of a medley on series sixteen of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, along with "Buttons", "Beep" and "Don't Cha".

As part of the performance, a TV test card flashed up on screen from ITV reading "we're sorry for the disruption... we're working hard to fix the issue and will return to normal family-friendly, not at all sexy, uncontroversial programming soon."

"[53] This led to some accusations from viewers that only Scherzinger was singing live,[53] with Adam White writing for The Independent noting that during the technical issue, "some members of the group could be seen sharing concerned glances at one another, indicating that they could not hear the song".

[56] On March 5, 2020, the group performed "React" as part of a medley of singles for Nova FM 96.9's Red Room at Glass Island Sydney Harbour, Australia.

[22] "A supersized sassy banger" is how Idolator's Mike Reid described "React", drawing comparisons to the group's 2006 singles "Beep" and "Wait a Minute".

[28] Similarly Daniel Megarry from Gay Times called "React" a fierce comeback and an "electro-pop banger with a massive chorus that gives us everything we want from the iconic performers.

"[21] Paper featured "React" in their 'Bops Only: 10 Songs You Need to Start Your Weekend Right' playlist, and praised the "electro-pop banger" for its "infectious energy [that] is sure to get a rise out of longtime fans and new ones alike.

[61] Brittany Spanos from Rolling Stone magazine praised the "catchy, bouncy pop tune" and stated "Thank God, the Pussycat Dolls are back".

[51] Following the performance, member Carmit Bachar responded to reports that once again viewers had complained to Ofcom by saying "being on Ant & Dec's show was hysterical; they are so good at what they do and the way they made light of the whole censorship thing was amazing.

The BBC defended the performance and released a statement saying "The Pussycat Dolls are well known for their dance routines and outfits and we announced at the start of the show that they would be appearing... we felt it was appropriate for the time slot and wouldn't fall outside the expectations of most viewers.

[67] Articles for both News.com.au and Junkee criticized hosts of The Project for focusing on a perceived sexual nature of their dance moves and for making the interview with Scherzinger awkward.

[68][67] One of The Project's hosts Waleed Aly asked questions such as whether the girls "fight over who wore the best tube tops and low rise jeans?".

[69] Following delays to the planned concert tour due to COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent reports emerged of a rift between Scherzinger and the group's founder Robin Antin.

"[19] On February 4, The Dolls released images from the music video showing the group "dressed in beige skintight PVC lingerie with matching thigh high boots, being drenched with water as they straddle chairs.

"[91] CNN's Alaa Elassar summarised the overall synopsis and sequencing of the video's scenes as "fire, leather outfits, and lots of seductive dancing in the rain".

She summed up her review by saying "we'll see what other high bars the Pussycat Dolls wanna set as they roll out the rest of their reunion".

Also comparing the song to previous single, "Buttons", Tangcay said the group "display[ed] their fiery hot moves amid flames, water and, most dangerous of all, chairs".

[95] Daniel Welsh from the Huffington Post called it "their most provocative video yet" and even though "Scherzinger takes centre stage", each "of the five band members get their moment in the spotlight".