Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo finally address viral 'holding space' Wicked interview

Just as the hype surrounding Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's dumbfounding 'holding space' interview dies down, the duo have addressed the moment in a hilarious new interview.

If none of what I just said makes any sense to you, worry not - we're here to fill you in...

What is the viral 'holding space' interview?

Last month, ahead of the cinematic release of Wicked, the film's two leading ladies Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were travelling the globe giving press interviews in order to promote it.

Eventually, they sat down with journalist Tracey E. Gilchrist, who works for LGBTQ+ magazine Out.

Little did the trio know, however, that the recording of the interview would rack up millions of views, after fans were left having absolutely no idea what they were chatting about during one particular segment.

Gilchrist begins the interview by telling 37-year-old theatre veteran Cynthia (who plays the Wicked Witch of The West in Wicked, otherwise known as 'Elphaba'): "I've seen this week people are taking the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity' and really holding space with that and feeling power in that."

Cynthia is then seen reacting with a shocked expression, seemingly unable to get her words out.

It is then that her co-star Ariana (who plays Glinda the Good) reaches across and takes hold of her index finger for support.

"I didn't know that that was happening," Cynthia eventually replies. "That's really powerful. That's what I wanted. I didn't know that was happening."

The journalist then clarifies in the video - which, by the way, is accompanied by some super dramatic music - "I've seen it on a couple of posts - I don't know how widespread - but I am in queer media."

"That's really cool," Cynthia adds.

The response...

Naturally, viewers were left baffled over the interview, with many questioning whether they'd missed something and others generally wondering what on earth 'holding space' means.

"if i'm holding space with the lyrics of defying gravity, and you're in queer media, then who the hell is holding this finger," one user joked online.

Another addressed the absurdity: "I can't tell what my favourite part of this video is: the solemnity in announcing people have been ‘holding space’ for the lyrics of a 20 year old song, Cynthia acting like she personally wrote it, Ariana holding onto Cynthia's index finger, or the reveal of ‘a couple of posts'."

Experts from around the world then chimed in - some claiming that 'holding space' is actually a 'therapy term'.

While Vulture claimed that it's all about being present with another person and validating their feelings, with the term having its grounds in social justice, Forbes accused the journalist of using the phrase 'clumsily'.

Finally, however, Ariana and Cynthia were asked about the clip directly in a recent interview with Variety in yet another rib-tickling video, which has itself gone viral.

"I didn't understand the first sentence," 31-year-old Ariana began, addressing reporter Gilchrist's initial mention of viewers 'holding space'.

Then, pointing to Cynthia, she added: "And then I definitely didn't understand what was happening - how you responded. I was like, 'Oh, what did she say? And what did you hear?'.

"And I just wanted to be here because I knew something big was happening, and I didn't know how to be there."

The Elphaba actress then chimed in to confess: "After a while, I didn't know how to be there."

Ariana then reverted back to the journalist: "She said something that meant something to her, it meant something totally different to you [Cynthia], and then she tried to get somewhere else.

"And the craziest thing was, I remember, in the moment asking myself, 'Am I okay? Did I not hear something?'. Because she [Cynthia] looked like she was about to cry again, and I'm going to grab this [her finger] because I think you might need something.

"I don't know what the tapping was about," Ariana added, before Cynthia suggested: "The tension?"

Cynthia then addressed the interviewer's explanation: "She's said that she'd seen it [people holding space] because she was in the queer media.

"I honestly didn't know what that meant, and, am I also in queer media? Work! Let's both be there."

Interjecting again, Ariana added: "It was so beautiful, I'm just glad - I feel really relieved that the world had the same experience with this moment that I did, because I felt like, oh, I'm not broken."

"I do love how the world has, like, gone with it," Cynthia lastly added.

So do we, babe.