Ariana Grande Told The Story Behind Experiencing The ‘Holding Space’ Question, And Revealed Why She Was Relieved When The Internet Was Deeply Confused By It

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It’s unlikely that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will be able to shake off the impact of their Wicked press tour until the sequel is released in 2025. The duo gained significant attention during promotions, especially for their emotional moments. However, it was a conversation about fans “holding space” for “Defying Gravity” that went viral, with Ariana Grande holding Cynthia’s finger as a response. After the internet blew up with memes, Grande humorously addressed the incident when asked to explain.

During their conversation with Tracy E. Gilchrist from OUT magazine, the pair discussed “Wicked” with journalists. As Grande recollected, she mentioned how people are “keeping space” for Elphaba’s powerful song. Noticing that Erivo was becoming emotional at her comment, Grande shared what was going through her mind at the moment by saying this:

In an attempt to console Cynthia, who was visibly emotional, and understanding her preference for physical touch, I instinctively took hold of her finger when she seemed distressed by what Tracy had shared. However, in that moment, I wasn’t sure what else to do, and my reaction was simply a release of energy I didn’t know how to manage. My intention was to show love and support for her, but I’m left wondering why it happened in such a way – I’m just unsure about the reason behind it.

Ever since the incident occurred, it’s been widely circulated online, with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo finger-holding T-shirts becoming available for purchase. Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet even playfully recreated it when they encountered Tracy E. Gilchrist, while Mark Ruffalo joined in on the fun by posting about the meme on his social media. Take a look:

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On The Graham Norton Show, Grande shared her take on that particular incident, sitting next to Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, and Don Gillet. She also mentioned:

What transpired was quite an unusual event. It was heartening to witness the global response upon release of the video, as it made me think, “Ah, thank goodness! I’m not alone in finding this strange. They, too, seemed bewildered and perplexed, which is comforting.

Grande had mentioned that Gilchrist’s remark was essentially “a lovely expression of people relating to the lyrics and finding comfort in them.” However, at that moment, she wasn’t sure how to handle the room’s energy. In response, she playfully grabbed Erivo’s finger for a bit of physical connection and support. This unexpected action turned into a humorous meme featuring their intertwined fingers.

Isn’t it amusing how everyday awkward or unusual events can unexpectedly explode into internet sensations? The Wicked press conference stood out exceptionally because of a peculiar incident, yet the film was equally remarkable. This week, when the 2025 Oscar nominations were announced, both principal actors received acting recognitions, and the movie garnered a grand total of 10 nominations, including Best Picture. We’ll find out how Wicked fares during the Oscars on March 2nd.

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2025-01-25 05:37