The journalist behind the Wicked ‘holding space’ meme has finally explained what she meant

Just before Wicked came out last week, the entire world and even the land of Oz were completely mystified by a bizarre viral press moment that has become a massive meme – “holding space for Defying Gravity”. The entire saga has dominated every social media platform for the entirety of Wicked weekend, and now the journalist who was directly responsible for the entire holding space saga has broken her silence on going viral!

In case you missed it, journalist Tracy E Gilchrist from Out is speaking with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and says “I’ve seen this week people are taking the lyrics to Defying Gravity and really holding space with that and feeling power in that.” Cynthia then says “I didn’t know that was happening”, to which Gilchrist says “I’ve seen it, yeah.”

Cynthia replies “That’s really powerful. That’s what I wanted” and Ariana Grande clutches her finger in a very way.

Tracy E Gilchrist then confesses she’s only seen it “on a couple of posts” and doesn’t know how widespread it is. Well, you’re in luck Tracy – because it is now VERY widespread because people are so confused by the conversation that it’s gone viral and become a huge meme on Twitter.

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

— maya 🦇 (@irish_goodbi) November 22, 2024

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Speaking in her home publication OUT magazine (because, as we know, she’s in queer media) Tracy E Gilchrist gave some clarification on what she was actually going on about with the Wicked holding space meme – not that it actually makes any more sense. But that’s the beauty of it.

“When I posed the question to Cynthia about people holding space with the lyrics to ‘Defying Gravity,’ it was two days after the election, and everyone I knew in the LGBTQ+ community was trying to make sense of what we might be facing. I loved her response, and I love that people are having a laugh, because I know I could use one about now.”

“I never considered I’d become a meme,” Gilchrist said in response to the interview going viral. “But as an unrepentant showqueen, I’m thrilled that it’s for something this campy, in response to a movie I love. Now go see Wicked!”