‘Holding Space’ Merch Has Taken Over the Internet, Naturally

variety.com:

Wicked” hit theaters but the internet is still holding space for more ways to celebrate the blockbuster musical adaptation, which took home the Golden Globe this past weekend for box office achievement.

While Universal churned out record levels of promotional merch ahead of the film’s Nov. release, rivaling that of Greta Gerwig’s cotton candy-hued “Barbie,” some of of the best “Wicked”-inspired products have come out in the weeks since its release — with fan-made shirts, mugs, hats and more nodding at many of the viral moments that have occurred throughout the film’s buzzy press cycle.

One such moment? When journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist told Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande that “people are taking the lyrics to ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that.” “I didn’t know that that was happening,” Erivo responded in the now-viral moment. “I’ve seen it on a couple posts, I don’t know how widespread.

But I am in queer media,” added Gilchrist. Immediately, the internet ran wild with the footage, with countless memes generated poking fun at the deep sincerity of the exchange, which contained little information but somehow widely resonated with the stars.