Journalist Behind That ‘Wicked’ ‘Holding Space’ Interview Tries To Explain What That Means

Journalist Tracy Gilchrist went viral last week for an interview she did with “Wicked” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, where she told the actors she’d seen people taking the lyrics of “Defying Gravity,” the musical’s signature showstopper, “and really holding space with that and feeling power in that.”
What exactly does this mean? The two stars seemed to know instinctively. Erivo put her hand to her chest and murmured: “I didn’t know that that was happening. That’s really powerful.” Grande grabbed Erivo’s index finger in support.
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The interview went viral on social media, where many people were baffled about what it actually means to “hold space” for a song, and why that assertion landed so powerfully with Erivo and Grande.
I can’t tell what my favorite part of this video is: the solemnity in announcing people have been “holding space” for the lyrics of a 20 year old song, Cynthia acting like she personally wrote it, Ariana holding onto Cynthia’s index finger, or the reveal of “a couple of posts” https://t.co/eDDUNcvaRn
Adding to the oddness of the whole thing is that in the interview, Gilchrist almost immediately cited her sources for the claim as “a couple posts,” acknowledging to Grande and Erivo: “I don’t know how widespread.”
“But, you know, I am in queer media,” added Gilchrist, who is vice president of editorial and special projects at the media company Equalpride, and who was interviewing the “Wicked” actors for Out magazine.
I’m completely mesmerized by this clip .. it’s almost like they are speaking a language I don’t understand . I can’t catch the sense of it for a single moment. I’m not understanding the words or the feelings or the energy at all. It’s amazing https://t.co/eU35OoMzvf
Gilchrist has since told Variety that she saw Tony Morrison, the senior communications director of GLAAD, post the lyrics of “Defying Gravity” before she spoke with Erivo and Grande.
“‘Holding space’ is being physically, emotionally and mentally present with someone or something,” Gilchrist told Variety on Monday. “For me, it means being in the moment, not being distracted and feeling something on a cellular level. 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.”
She added that the interview took place one day after the election, which might have created an emotionally heightened atmosphere.
“The Trump administration is targeting LGBTQ+ people via Project 2025,” Gilchrist told Variety. “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.”
The clip has made its way off the internet and into the wider world. The hosts of “The View” spoke about it, the Gay Men’s Chorus sang about it, and Etsy shops are already selling T-shirts that proclaim the wearer is “holding space for the lyrics of defying gravity.”
Gilchrist told Variety that she is “a lot slower than the internet,” so she doesn’t plan on selling any merch of her own. But, she said, she might start a podcast.
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“I was at lunch with a friend, and he kept asking me to explain what was happening ― like, why is it funny,” Gilchrist said. “I don’t know! It just is.”