the boy is mine

In 2023, an unreleased Ariana Grande song titled "Fantasize" went viral on TikTok and other social media platforms. While the track's leak coincided with the news of her relationship with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater (who was then married but later filed for divorce), Grande clarified that the song's content was unrelated to her personal life. Originally intended for a comedic skit revolving around a girl group, "Fantasize" explored themes of fantasizing about someone unavailable. As the leaked song garnered positive fan feedback, Grande was inspired to incorporate parts of "Fantasize" into "The Boy Is Mine," the eighth track on her Eternal Sunshine album. "I think it's naughty, it's the version of 'Fantasize' that they wanted to have," Grande told Zach Sang. "It's like a sexier, naughtier one, and I think it's more provocative than the rest, but it's not about what you think it was about."

"The Boy Is Mine" draws inspiration from the 1990s R&B hit of the same name by Brandy and Monica, which is finds two women fighting over the affection of one man. "I'm such a '90s baby," Grande told Zach Sang. "I have so many '90s interpolation ideas, samples, in my brain but this one finally found a home."

Grande embodies a confident persona in the lyrics, acknowledging the public's fascination with such portrayals. Tempo variations within the song reflect the complexities of a love triangle, offering a nuanced perspective on Grande's relationship with public perception. Speaking with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Grande acknowledged the song's provocative nature amid accusations of being a homewrecker, saying: "This is a very bad idea, I think, but there is a large group of my fans that really do love a bad girl anthem. And this is kind of an elevated version of that."