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.

The conversation, centered on the film inspired by the Broadway classic, took an emotional turn when Tracey mentioned, “I’ve seen this week people are taking the lyrics of "Defying Gravity" and really holding space with that 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'

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.”

Fans are “holding space” for the Wicked song Defying Gravity online as part of a new viral meme that has taken over the internet.

First derived by writer Heather Platt in a 2015 blog post, 'holding space' describes the ability to 'walk alongside another person in whatever journey they're on, without judging them, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or trying to impact the outcome'.

Let’s set the scene! A reporter from Out.com told Erivo this: “I’ve seen this week, people are taking the lyrics of Defying Gravity and really holding space with that, and feeling power in that.” Erivo got very emotional, saying she didn’t know that had happened and that it was extremely powerful. Grande then held her … finger.

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.