December 7th 2024.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo recently went on a press tour for their highly anticipated movie musical adaptation of Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu. Throughout the tour, the two stars shared a close bond, which was evident in their recent interview with Out magazine journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist. The interview quickly went viral due to the confusion and hilarity that ensued when Gilchrist mentioned how people were "holding space" for the lyrics of Defying Gravity. In a recent interview, Ariana revealed that she had no idea what the interviewer meant, but she just wanted to support her co-star Cynthia.
It was clear that nobody in the room understood what was going on, including Ariana and Cynthia. They both laughed about the bizarre moment and how they struggled to make sense of it. Even the reporter backpedaled and admitted to not knowing what she meant by "holding space." The confusion continued when the reporter mentioned she was from "queer media," leaving everyone perplexed. However, Ariana and Cynthia found humor in the situation and are even getting t-shirts made with the now-famous phrase.
Jon M. Chu, who directed the movie, also joined in on the joke, saying his finger was "itching" to join in on the support. In a post-interview with Variety, the journalist clarified her intentions and where she drew inspiration for the questions. She explained that the lyrics of Defying Gravity hold a lot of resonance, especially for marginalized individuals. And despite the confusion, the moment has given everyone a good laugh and added to the movie's box office success.
Speaking of which, Wicked has been a huge hit at the box office, earning $380 million globally so far. In an interview, Jon shared that he was "haunted" by the pressure to make Defying Gravity perfect. He wanted to ensure that the song had all the emotional depth and resonance from the beginning of the movie, so the audience would root for Elphaba to have her moment. Meanwhile, Ariana addressed another aspect of the press tour that she has struggled with – comments about her body. She explained that she has been in the public eye since she was 16 or 17 and has heard every version of what's "wrong" with her. But despite the criticism, she remains focused on her music and art.
At the end of the day, the confusion and hilarity of the interview have only added to the success of Wicked, and people are still "holding space" for the lyrics of Defying Gravity. So, whether we understand the phrase or not, it has become a memorable moment in the movie's press tour. And as for Ariana and Cynthia, their bond and friendship have only grown stronger through this experience.
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