Everyone is holding space for that bizarre interview from the “Wicked” press tour.
A clip from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s sit-down with an Out magazine reporter has been shared tens of millions of times online because of the confusion over the reporter’s claim that fans “are holding space” with the lyrics of “Defying Gravity,” which prompted an emotional response from Erivo, 37.
The interview has been mocked not only by fans, but also by some Broadway stars.
“Once Upon a Mattress” co-stars Sutton Foster, Ana Gasteyer and Michael Urie made a TikTok about the meme over the weekend.
“I don’t know if you heard this, but people have been taking the lyrics of “Shy” and really holding space with them,” Urie, 44, told his co-stars in a dressing room at their Broadway show.
“Shy” is the big musical number from “Once Upon a Mattress,” which is about a princess who tries to win the hand of a prince in a kingdom where the queen has banned marriage.
Gasteyer, 57, mocked Grande’s initial reaction to the “holding space” comment by turning to Foster, 49, and asking, “Will you pull my finger?”
Foster did just that, and Gasteyer made a farting noise with her mouth, which caused the three actors to burst out laughing.
“Holding space for all the shy girls today,” Gasteyer captioned her TikTok.
“We don’t deserve you. Thank you for the consistent joy,” one fan told Gasteyer in the comments section.
“Oh Ana!! This is exactly what I needed,” someone else wrote.
Gasteyer actually originated the role of Elphaba in the Chicago sit-down production of “Wicked” in 2005. She reprised the role in the Broadway production from October 2006 to January 2007.
Erivo and Grande, 31, play Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in the new two-part film adaptation of the Broadway show. They’ve been ridiculed for their cringeworthy press tour behavior, including in the Out magazine interview.
The reporter, Tracy Gilchrist, told the actresses, “People are taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and are really holding space with that and feeling power in that.”
Erivo, 37, clasped her hand to her chest and was visibly affected by Gilchrist’s words.
“I didn’t know that was happening. That’s really powerful,” the Tony Award winner responded.
Grande supported Erivo during the strange emotional moment by clutching her co-star’s index finger.
“I’ve seen it in a couple posts,” Gilchrist said. “I don’t know how widespread, but you know, I am in queer media, so, that’s my, you know, but yeah, it’s happening.”
The unusual exchange went viral online as fans expressed their confusion over what Gilchrist was talking about, as well as why it elicited such a strong reaction from Erivo.
The phrase “holding space” has even become a viral term on the internet.
Grande and Erivo will be back on the press tour next year for “Wicked Part Two,” which hits theaters Nov. 21, 2025.
