Its accompanying music video was directed by Sophie Muller, and filmed inside of a high school gymnasium and locker rooms.

"[5] On March 8, she published a series of images onto her social media accounts, featuring objects such as an alarm clock reading "5:44" and a cassette tape with the title "Slow Clap".

[7] Using the same creative team behind "Let Me Reintroduce Myself", "Slow Clap" was written by Stefani, Ross Golan, and the song's sole producer, Luke Niccoli.

[8] During an interview with Apple Music 1's Zane Lowe, Stefani stated that she initially imagined writing a "sad love song", but was met with hesitation from both Niccoli and Golan.

[12] It debuted alongside Stefani's exclusive merchandise line through Amazon, and a promotional audio clip of the song on her YouTube channel.

[8] Feeling the song was reminiscent to her older titles, Kelli Skye Fadroski of Orange County Register described "Slow Clap" as "Rock Steady meets 'Hollaback Girl'".

[18] Entertainment Weekly's Joey Nolfi furthered the Rock Steady comparison, saying "Slow Clap" uses the same "echoey melody" of its title track (2001).

[25] Fadroski summarized the song's lyrics as "a pep talk delivered with confidence", while Rachael Dowd from Alternative Press described them as "about snapping back into reality after going through a lull point in life".

[21] Leas felt the song was "infectious enough [to] get stuck in your head" after a few listens, and that it recalled Stefani's career in the 1990s when she "laid [the] groundwork" for other artists.

[23] Fabio Magnocavallo from Euphoria felt the song's lyrics were deeper than they initially come across, and appreciated Stefani for "taking her sound wherever the hell she wants it to go" in an industry dominated by younger artists.

[27] In his list of "Songs We'll Leave Behind in 2021", Amit Vaidya from Rolling Stone India featured "Slow Clap" and argued that it "has to be one of the most ridiculous attempts at the artist trying to reclaim her place on the Top 40 again".

[28] A version of "Slow Clap" featuring American rapper Saweetie was released on April 9, 2021, through Interscope Records as the album's second single.

They are shown wearing jerseys and athletic uniforms, with the latter artist also sporting hot pink hair and a pair of star-spangled booty shorts.

[41] According to Newsweek's Jon Jackson, Twitter users criticized the video as cultural appropriation because of Stefani's "hip hop-inspired look" and "the visual presentation of her amid people of color".