What does holding space mean and what does it have to do with Wicked? We asked the author who helped popularize the term.

Gilchrist, who has been mocked by the internet for creating the completely nonsensical now-viral phrase, told Variety on Monday that the interview was conducted a day and a half after the Nov. 5 presidential election, and that she went into the sit-down with “sincere” intentions.

Ariana Grande has responded to the viral "holding space" moment from the Wicked press tour. The singer and actor, who plays Glinda the Good Witch in the musical movie, commented a response to a recreation of the famous "holding space" interview moment featuring the original interviewer, Out reporter Tracy E. Gilchrist.

The press tour for Wicked has been quite a doozy, with stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo constantly breaking the internet with viral moments. Recently, the popular duo alongside a journalist have become the subjects of a new meme following a bizarre interaction they had during a junket. The reporter has since responded to her new-found fame.

A n executed squirrel, a swarm of Timothée Chalamets, Cynthia Erivo’s single finger … those are just three of the things we had to hold space for in November. While current e

If you are still desperate to make sense of the notion of “holding space for the lyrics to ‘Defying Gravity,’” the patron saint of queer media herself has since clarified what she meant in this specific context.

The phrase “holding space” in the context of the Wicked song “Defying Gravity” comes from Out Magazine reporter Tracey E. Gilchrist as she interviewed Erivo and Ariana Grande during the press tour. “I’ve seen, this week, people are taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that,” she said. “And feeling power in that.”

Let’s set the scene! A reporter from Out.com told Erivo this: “I’ve seen this week, people are taking the lyrics of Defying Gravity and really holding space with that, and feeling power in that.” Erivo got very emotional, saying she didn’t know that had happened and that it was extremely powerful. Grande then held her … finger.

Stephen Schwartz’s musical “Wicked” — after two decades of acclaim, rumors and anticipation — has finally been adapted for the big screen under the direction of Jon M. Chu. “Wicked,” a reimagining of MGM’s classic film “The Wizard of Oz,” expands the narratives of the witches of Oz and challenges their characterizations as “good” or “evil.”

After over a week of Wicked fans taking the lyrics of "Defying Gravity" and really holding space and feeling power with that, star of the blockbuster film Ariana Grande has responded to the now iconic meme.