It’s time to listen to your gut, shut your eyes, and welcome the phenomenon that is “Defying Gravity”—or so enthusiasts of *Wicked* would have you think following a recent interview featuring stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo that went viral.

In the now-popular clip, Tracy E. Gilchrist of *Out Magazine* shares a heartfelt insight with Grande and Erivo: “I’ve seen this week people are taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and genuinely holding space with that and holding power in that.” Erivo, appearing slightly surprised, murmurs, “Uh, I didn’t know that that was happening.” The two share more soft-spoken exchanges while Grande tenderly holds one of Erivo’s fingers, creating a moment that is both sincere and inadvertently humorous.

The video rapidly gained popularity online, inciting a flood of memes and reactions. The authenticity of the interaction, coupled with its unusual phrasing, resonated with social media users. One individual on X (formerly Twitter) humorously dissected the highlights of the video, stating, “I can’t determine what my favorite part of this video is: the gravity of announcing people have been ‘holding space’ for the lyrics of a 20-year-old song, Cynthia acting as if she personally penned it, Ariana gripping Cynthia’s index finger, or the mention of ‘a couple of posts.'”

The moment became so legendary that *Out Magazine* subsequently published an interview with Gilchrist, who clarified the context surrounding her remark. “When I asked Cynthia about people holding space with the lyrics to ‘Defying Gravity,’ it was two days after the election, and everyone I knew in the LGBTQ+ community was trying to comprehend what we might be facing. I adored her reply, and I love that people are finding humor in it, because I know I could use some laughter right now,” she mentioned.

The internet, however, didn’t settle for mere amusement—it dived headfirst into meme creation. Some users played around with the idea of “holding space,” envisioning scenarios like Carrie Bradshaw or Don Corleone interpreting the iconic *Wicked* lyrics. Others took the phrase to wildly new contexts, with one user jesting, “Hey! I’m so pleased you reached out. I’m currently holding space with the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity,’ and I don’t think I can maintain appropriate space for you. Could we connect [later date or time] instead?”

Meanwhile, the finger-holding moment between Grande and Erivo evolved into its own meme-worthy phenomenon. One user edited their intertwined fingers onto the *Wicked* movie poster, while another comically compared the gesture to Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam.”

The term “holding space” has now transformed into a viral catchphrase on platforms like X and Bluesky, with users attaching it to everything from cigarettes to cultural references. The blend of sincerity, absurdity, and meme potential has turned the interview into a cultural milestone, demonstrating that even a 20-year-old song can still defy gravity—and expectations.

With the video and the memes, it appears fans have truly obtained everything they’ve ever desired.