"The Boy Is Mine" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande from her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine (2024).
Inspired by a leaked demo Grande made for a comedy sketch, the song is an R&B track that reimagines the 1998 duet of the same name by American singers Brandy and Monica.
Upon release, "The Boy Is Mine" received positive reviews from music critics for its '90s R&B sound and sultry lyrical content.
Grande promoted the single with performances at the 2024 Met Gala and on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
A music video directed by Christian Breslauer was released on June 7, 2024, starring Grande as Catwoman and American actor Penn Badgley as her love interest, with additional cameos from Brandy and Monica.
[1] "Fantasize" was positively received by fans, inspiring Grande to include elements of the song for her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine (2024).
[2] During an interview about the album, Grande referred to "The Boy Is Mine" as her version of "Fantasize" and stated about her leaked songs "although you've heard them — because you stole them — they're very different now.
In the song's bridge, Grande exclaims how her relationship with her love interest is meant to be, taking accountability for any drama created.
[17] Grande described "The Boy Is Mine" as a reimagining of the similarly titled 1998 single by Brandy and Monica, which was about two women fighting over the affection of one man.
and "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" from Eternal Sunshine, commented on Grande's teaser and shared the sneak peek on his own Instagram account.
[22] "Get your popcorn, take your seats," Breslauer wrote on Grande's post; "ACT III… soon", said the music video director on his personal Instagram page.
[22] The music video features Grande returning as Peaches alias Catwoman, and Penn Badgley as the mayor of the city who has released feral cats into the streets to eradicate a rat infestation.
R&B singers Brandy and Monica make a cameo appearance as news anchors reporting on the rat crisis.
[23] The video features Grande's Victorious co-star, Elizabeth Gillies, providing her voice for a commercial and the sound effects for the rats.
It is revealed that the mayor, Max Starling, has a plan to exterminate the city's rodent infestation by using the large numbers of stray cats roaming around.
The music stops and the scene is set inside Starling's apartment, where he soaks his face into ice bath.
[30] Lindsay Zoladz of The New York Times described it as "a lusty song about a forbidden crush" and likened its "stuttering" percussion to that of the boy-bands Max Martin has worked with before.
[31] Prior to its release as a single, "The Boy Is Mine" debuted at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 as the highest-charting album track.
[73] Grande first teased the remix when she interpolated the hook of Brandy and Monica's original duet at the end of her performance of her song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on June 6.