Critics positively reviewed "Toxic Till the End" for its emotional depth and energetic production. The accompanying music video was directed by Ramez Silyan and features Rosé and actor Evan Mock in a toxic love story filmed at Old Westbury Gardens, New York. It portrays a relationship in the style of Gilmore Girls, blending romantic moments with dramatic confrontations. The song achieved success, peaking at number four on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart and number 15 on the Billboard Global 200, as well as in the top ten in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia. It also charted in Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, among other countries. Rosé made her debut live performance of "Toxic Till the End" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Background and promotion
On 18 October 2024, Rosé released "Apt.", a collaboration with American singer Bruno Mars, as the lead single from her upcoming debut studio album, Rosie.[1] The song was a commercial success and peaked atop the Billboard Global 200 and various charts worldwide, while entering the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.[2] She followed with the album's second single "Number One Girl" on 22 November.[3] On 4 December, Rosé announced "Toxic Till the End" as the third single to be released alongside the album on 6 December. An accompanying teaser poster for the single was released depicting a man running after the singer in a garden, followed by a second teaser photo of the two sitting by a fireplace and affectionately looking at one another.[4]
Composition and lyrics
"Toxic Till the End" has been described to be an emo pop,[5]power pop,[6] and synth-pop[7] track infused with guitars and "bubbling synths". Stylistically, the song has been musically likened to Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift, especially in comparison to the latter's melodic structures and songwriting narratives.[5][8][9][10]
Thematically, the song reflects the turbulence of a toxic on-again, off-again relationship, drawing from Rosé's personal experiences. It has been noted to depict Rosé as both the victim and a willing participant in the "cycle of frustration".[11] Originally titled "The Ex", the song was inspired by a former lover who had become such a frequent topic of discussion for Rosé that they became known as "the ex" among her friends. Rosé shared in an interview with Apple Music's The Zane Lowe Show that the track was the result of her need to gain closure about the experience, stating: "We've talked about the ex a bit too much, it's about time that we write a song called 'the ex'." Ultimately, however, the song's title was later changed to "Toxic Till the End" since it was considered to be the "better punchline".[12] During an episode of Vanity Fair's Lie Detector Test interview series, Rosé commented on rumours that the song was inspired by Jaden Smith, clarifying that the song was not in fact about him and that the two had never dated, although they were good friends.[13][14]
Critical reception
Writing for Clash, Robin Murray positively labeled "Toxic Till the End" as a song of escape that "bursts with energy".[15] Jeff Benjamin of Billboard ranked it at number one in his track-by-track album review, praising its emotional depth, power-pop production, and mainstream appeal. He highlighted its "buoyancy" despite its "destructive details," calling it a moment in Rosé's solo journey where she steps out of her place in Blackpink to fully embrace her individuality.[6] Similarly, Renowned for Sound's Eleanor Carr highlighted the track as "a memorable listen", complimenting it for its "tongue-in-cheek lyrics" and sarcastic take on a toxic relationship.[16]
Accolades
"Toxic Till the End" won two weekly Melon Popularity Awards on 30 December 2024 and 6 January 2025.[17]
Commercial performance
"Toxic Till the End" debuted at number six on the Billboard Global Excl. US with 50.4 million streams and 4,000 sold outside the US. With this, Rosé achieved two concurrent songs in the top ten, as her previous single "Apt." simultaneously charted at number one. It marked her third total solo top-ten hit on the chart, ahead of bandmate Jisoo's one and behind Jennie and Lisa's four each.[18] In the United States, "Toxic Till the End" debuted at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100.[19] On 25 January 2025, it entered the BillboardPop Airplay at number 40, with a rise of 50% in plays since the previous week.[20]
Live performances
On 11 December 2024, Rosé performed a live band medley of the song and "Apt." on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[21] On 23 January 2025, Rosé presented a three-song set, performing "Stay a Little Longer", "Toxic Till the End", and "Apt.", at the Gala des Pièces Jaunes 2025 held at the Paris La Défense Arena.[22] She later performed a six-song set, which included "Toxic Till the End", at the Japanese music festival GMO Sonic 2025 held at the Saitama Super Arena as a special guest on 26 January.[23][24]
Music video
Directed by Ramez Silyan, the music video for the single was released on 6 December.[5] Filmed at Old Westbury Gardens in Long Island, New York,[25] it features Rosé alongside American actor Evan Mock. Drawing inspiration from Gilmore Girls, the cinematic video tells a toxic love story between the two characters, culminating in a bitter and dramatic conclusion.[26] At the start, pink-haired Mock flags down Rosé's car on a country road after his bicycle tire blows out. She is intrigued and gives him a ride, which leads into a rom-com montage of the couple's happy early days, including scenes of them chasing each other through the gardens of a large estate, sharing a tender fireside snuggle, and her signing his cast after he wipes out on his skateboard. However, problems grow in the relationship, with Rosé noticing when Mock covers his phone to conceal a text from her. Angered, she attempts to leave but burns out in her car.[5] The couple's back-and-forth dynamic continues to alternate between adoring embraces and annoyed shoving, becoming dangerous as Rosé knocks him into a statue.[27] Although the messy couple appear to make up again, Rosé reveals their chance encounter at the start was, in fact, premeditated.[5]
^Kim, Hee-won (30 October 2024). 뉴스 : 네이버 엔터 [Rose's 'Apartment' Goes Beyond the Top Floor and Makes New History]. Kyunghyang Shinmun. Archived from the original on 5 December 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
^Kikuchi, Takeshi (27 December 2024). 国内最大規模のダンスミュージックフェスティバル GMO SONIC 2025 のフルラインナップが発表 [The full lineup for GMO SONIC 2025, Japan's largest dance music festival, has been announced]. HypeBeast (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 28 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 2. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
