Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have explained their viral ‘holding space’ interview moment.
The movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical Wicked has been a box office hit, smashing records. In one conversation, Grande and Erivo, the two leading stars who play Glinda and Elphaba, were asked about ‘holding space’ and unintentionally created a viral meme.
Last month, a journalist interviewing the actors and real-life besties remarked: “People are taking the dyings of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that and feeling power in that.”
This prompted an emotional response from Erivo, who said: “I didn't know that that was happening... that's really powerful. That's what I wanted."
Looking longingly at Grande who squeezes her co-star's finger, Erivo went on: "I think it's really important in that moment to not allow the things that have hurt her, that have stripped her of her humanity, to keep her down."
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The whole thing has left people with a lot of questions.
"Wtf does holding space mean," said one social media user.
"I don't think Ariana and Cynthia understand what she is saying either honestly," someone else suggested.
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As it turns out, both Grande and Erivo were confused about the meaning of the term but did their best to respond.
The journalist said she was made aware of the phenomenon of ‘holding space’ partly due to her role as a writer in ‘queer media’.
“I honestly didn’t know what that meant — am I also in queer media, maybe?,” Erivo remarked during a new interview for Variety. “Work! Let’s both be there.”
“I didn’t know what any part of it meant,” Grande added. “I didn’t understand the first sentence, and then I definitely didn’t understand how you responded. And I just wanted to be there. Because I knew something big was happening, and I didn’t know how to be there.”
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“After a while, I didn’t know how to be there,” Erivo added.
The pair also spoke about the viral finger-grab moment, as the chart-topping hit-maker recalled, “I’m going to grab this, because she looks like you might need something. I don’t know what the tapping was about.”
“Release of tension!” the Harriet star added.
Grande also praised the journalist, adding: “She’s also an amazing interviewer and a lovely person. That goes without saying.”
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The journalist also commented on what she meant when using the term and how she feels about the meme: “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. 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!”
Topics: Ariana Grande, Celebrity, Cynthia Erivo, Film and TV, LGBTQ
Gregory Robinson