What does holding space mean and what does it have to do with Wicked? We asked the author who helped popularize the term.

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.

Ariana Grande has responded to the viral "holding space" moment from the Wicked press tour. The singer and actor, who plays Glinda the Good Witch in the musical movie, commented a response to a recreation of the famous "holding space" interview moment featuring the original interviewer, Out reporter Tracy E. Gilchrist.

If you are still desperate to make sense of the notion of “holding space for the lyrics to ‘Defying Gravity,’” the patron saint of queer media herself has since clarified what she meant in this specific context.

The phrase “holding space” in the context of the Wicked song “Defying Gravity” comes from Out Magazine reporter Tracey E. Gilchrist as she interviewed Erivo and Ariana Grande during the press tour. “I’ve seen, this week, people are taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that,” she said. “And feeling power in that.”

The internet was set ablaze this week when one reporter told Wicked star Cynthia Erivo that fans were 'holding space' with 'Defying Gravity'

Add them up when you get to the end to see if you’re firmly employed or if the space you hold for memes is unlimited. Headline-making culture news or online moments that were so universal even someone who still uses a Hotmail account would be aware of them.

After over a week of Wicked fans taking the lyrics of "Defying Gravity" and really holding space and feeling power with that, star of the blockbuster film Ariana Grande has responded to the now iconic meme.