During the press tour for the newly released film Badstars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have provided the internet with many memorable moments. In a recent interview, Out Magazine reporter Tracey E. Gilchrist told Erivo that “people take the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really hold space for them, and feel power in that.”
The implication was that members of the LGBT+ community felt that the lyrics conveyed a sense of being heard, and they appreciated that. Erivo seemed surprised by this and said, “I didn’t know that happened,” with a stunned look on her face.
Gilchrist said she wasn’t sure how widespread the reaction was, but that she had seen it online. “That’s really powerful, that’s what I wanted,” Erivo replied in surprise.
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The two co-stars looked to each other for support, and Grande reached out to hold Erivo’s hand. Gilchrist then replied, to temper expectations: “I’ve seen it on a few posts, I don’t know how widespread.” She ended by saying, “But you know, I’m in queer media, that’s my – you know…”
“That’s really cool,” Erivo said.
The video made its way to social media, where it turned into a meme and an incentive for people to joke about the awkwardness of the interview and share their confusion. “I don’t know what my favorite part of this video is,” one person commented. “The ceremony of announcing people is ‘holding space’ for the lyrics of a twenty-year-old song; Cynthia pretending to have personally written it; Ariana holding Cynthia’s index finger; or the unveiling of ‘a few messages.'”
Social media users were also confused about what Gilchrist meant when he said people were “taking up space” and turning that confusion into jokes.
In a recently published article for Out Magazine offered the reporter some clarification on the exchange. “When I asked Cynthia the question about people taking up space with the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity,’ it was two days after the election, and everyone I knew in the LGBTQ+ community was trying to understand what we might be dealing with ,” she said. “I loved her reaction, and I love that people are laughing because I know I could use one right now.”
She continued to say that she “never thought about it [she’d] become a meme’ and am happy to see the reaction. “But as an unrepentant show queen, I’m thrilled that it’s campy for something so campy, in response to a movie I love. Now go take a look Bad!”
