It seems Wicked isn’t just defying gravity, Pop Tellers, but collecting as many viral moments as it can. Ever since Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo embarked on their press tour for Wicked, emotions have been running high among the cast, with fans trying to make sense of the overly emotional interviews.
I mean, does Ariana Grande even have any tears left to cry at this point? From the sobbing to the consoling, to the mixture of emotions on this press tour, it’s definitely been unhinged a lot. Some call it cringe, others think it’s sweet, but mostly everyone finds it awkwardly hilarious. So much so that one particular clip from a recent interview has become a running joke on the internet.
Ariana and Cynthia’s Dramatic ‘Holding Space’ Interview
In the viral clip, reporter Tracy E. Gilchrist from Out.com remarked that “people are taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that, and feeling power in that.”
Hmm. Make of that what you will, because Cynthia certainly did!
Erivo, hand on her chest, responded emotionally, “I didn’t know that that was happening. That’s really powerful. That’s exactly what I wanted.”
The super emotional vibe, with everyone on the verge of tears, gets especially comical when Ariana tries to offer support — grasping just one of Erivo’s fingers (with massive green nails).
Naturally, the internet turned this batsh*t crazy moment into a meme.
Some people even joked that there must be a gas leak causing the overly dramatic reactions or that the cast “must be on drugs.”
So what does holding space even mean? What does Cynthia know that we don’t? And why did she get so dramatically emotional? Well… TBH we can’t quite understand it, but at least the journalist herself has finally offered some sort of explanation.
RELATED:
Fans are Confused by Ariana Grande’s ‘Fake Voice’
What does “Holding Space” even mean?
Funny moment aside, there *might be* something deep about this viral remark. Speaking to Variety, journalist Tracy Gilchrist defined holding space as “being physically, emotionally and mentally present with someone or something. For me, it means being in the moment, not being distracted and feeling something on a cellular level.”
She continued by explaining that her viral question came following the elections, during a time when the LGBTQ+ community has been navigating the future and standing tall against Donald Trump’s threats,
“…I think you can hold space with lyrics of a song – one you’ve heard hundreds of times – and it can suddenly take on new meaning when you’re a queer person. The Trump administration is targeting LGBTQ+ people via Project 2025. When Cynthia sings ‘I’m through accepting limits,’ there’s power in that. She plays a character who is othered. One who comes to her full power when she is exiled by a charlatan, by a cruel leader. There’s a lot of resonance there right now for anyone who is marginalized. For me, holding space is listening to those lyrics anew and finding solace or inspiration.”
Gilchrist admitted her response to Cynthia’s emotional reaction was pretty off-the-cuff: “I could have said, ‘I have all these friends, and this is our conversation.’ But instead, I said, ‘I’m in queer media.’”
That line? Yeah, it also had the internet laughing.
The Elphaba-Glinda Connection
Okay, maybe Ariana and Cynthia’s interactions do come off as… a little too intense. But hey, the OG actresses (Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth) were just as extra in the original musical — it’s all about channeling that sweet-but-dramatic character energy.
That said, Ari and Cynthia might’ve cranked it up to 11. Fingers crossed the Oscars recognize this commitment to the bit.
What do you make of the journalist’s explanation? How did you interpret the viral “holding space” remark? Let us know in the comments, and hey, if you ever need us to hold your hand (or your finger), we’ve got you.
READ NEXT:
Every Celeb Who Almost Starred in ‘Wicked’
