Viral ‘Wicked’ journalist reveals what ‘holding space’ means — and how she’s coping with ‘wild’ backlash

nypost.com:

popular.The woman responsible for the “Wicked” interview about “holding space” has finally clarified what the hell she was talking about.Tracy Gilchrist for Out magazine told Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande that fans of the movie “are holding space” with the lyrics of “Defying Gravity,” which sparked an emotional reaction from Erivo, 37.“I didn’t know that was happening.

That’s really powerful,” said Erivo, as Grande, 31, reached over and clutched her co-star’s index finger. 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.But now that the interview has blown up online, Gilchrist explained her personal definition for “holding space.”“I was very inspired by Tony Morrison, [senior communications director] from GLAAD,” she said to Variety. “He posted the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ before I did my interview.

It was a great explainer. ‘Holding space’ is being physically, emotionally and mentally present with someone or something. For me, it means being in the moment, not being distracted and feeling something on a cellular level.”“I think you can hold space with lyrics of a song – one you’ve heard hundreds of times – and it can suddenly take on new meaning when you’re a queer person,” she continued. “The Trump administration is targeting LGBTQ+ people via Project 2025.