Her video is popular.
The woman responsible for the “Wicked” interview about “holding space” has finally clarified what the hell she was talking about.
Tracy Gilchrist for Out magazine told Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande that fans of the movie “are holding space” with the lyrics of “Defying Gravity,” which sparked an emotional reaction from Erivo, 37.
“I didn’t know that was happening. That’s really powerful,” said Erivo, as Grande, 31, reached over and clutched her co-star’s index finger.
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.
But now that the interview has blown up online, Gilchrist explained her personal definition for “holding space.”
“I was very inspired by Tony Morrison, [senior communications director] from GLAAD,” she said to Variety. “He posted the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ before I did my interview. It was a great explainer. ‘Holding space’ is 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.”
“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 continued. “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.”
Gilchrist added, “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 journalist admitted that she was “a little thrown off” when Erivo had such a visceral reaction to the “holding space” comment.
“I was a little flustered. I could have said, ‘I have all these friends, and this is our conversation.’ But instead I said, ‘I’m in queer media,’” Gilchrist said.
Gilchrist added that the “wild” response to her interview with the film’s stars has been a mixed bag of praise and criticism.
“Of course, there are cynics and haters out there but I’m really just trying to not pay too much attention to that,” she told Variety. “This was for us, for queer people who understand what I meant by holding space — or really, for anybody who feels marginalized and can relate. So it’s for us. It’s not for them. They can hate all they want.”
As for the positive response, Gilchrist said she’s just starting to learn how widespread her interview is with the world.
“Friends of mine were telling me to get a merch store up and running. I’m already seeing the T-shirts and the ballcaps,” she shared. “A friend of mine was at a gay bar in Minneapolis this weekend, and said someone was wearing a shirt with my face on it.”
“I have not considered the full breadth of what this might be,” Gilchrist went on. “I had a podcast with The Advocate several years ago, so who knows? Maybe a little podcast. I’m open.”
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