Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo Finally Respond to 'Holding Space' Meme, Reveal What They Were Thinking When It Happened

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are finally opening up about the “holding space” meme and sharing their side of the story!

The meme started when the Wicked co-stars were being interviewed at a press junket by Out Magazine journalist Tracy Gilchrist, who told the actresses that “people are taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that and feeling power in that.”

Cynthia had an emotional reaction to the comment, saying that she didn’t realize that was happening. It led Ariana to grab one of Cynthia‘s fingers to support her during the moment.

So, what were they really thinking when that happened?

Keep reading to find out more…

Ariana, Cynthia, and director Jon M. Chu opened up in a new interview with Variety.

“I was surprised, because I had no idea. I hadn’t been looking that much,” Cynthia said.

“I didn’t know what any part of it meant,” Ariana said. “I didn’t understand the first sentence, and then I definitely didn’t understand how you responded. I was like, ‘Oh, what did she say and what did you hear?’ And I just wanted to be there. Because I knew something big was happening, and I didn’t know how to be there.”

“After a while, I didn’t know how to be there,” Cynthia joked.

Ariana added that the “craziest thing was, I remember in the moment asking myself, ‘Am I okay? Did I not hear something?’”

Why did she grab Cynthia‘s finger? Ari said, “She looked like she was going to cry again so I was like, ‘I’m going to grab this,’ because she looks like you might need something. I don’t know what the tapping was about.”

Watch the full interview below!

Tracy has explained her side of the story already.

Watch the original video below!