Cynthia Erivo has finally addressed the now-infamous 'holding space' interview moment that went viral earlier this year, featuring herself and co-star Ariana Grande.
The Viral Interview Moment Explained
Speaking candidly while promoting her stunning GQ Men of the Year cover shoot, the acclaimed actress and singer described the incident as purely 'an innocent moment of confusion and human reaction'. The original clip, from an Out Magazine interview with journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist, saw the Wicked co-stars discussing the film's closing number, Defying Gravity, when Gilchrist mentioned fans were 'taking the lyrics' and 'really holding space with that'.
Erivo's shocked reaction, where she placed a hand over her chest and responded 'I didn't know that was happening. That's really powerful. That's what I wanted,' quickly became internet gold. Now, Erivo reveals the behind-the-scenes confusion that led to the memorable exchange. 'I received one thing, Ari received another, and Tracy said something but probably meant to say something else, and then took back the thing that she was saying – it was all so confusing, so that all of us were, in the end, confused but… moved. It was very strange.'
Unwanted Fan Encounters and Deep Role Reflections
The actress also shared an unexpected consequence of the viral moment: strangers now approach her in public asking to hold her finger, mimicking Ariana Grande's comforting gesture from the interview. 'I hate it,' Erivo stated bluntly. 'I don't want anyone holding my finger.'
Transitioning to discussing her role as Elphaba in Wicked: Part One, Erivo offered profound insights into her acting process. 'It was exposing, in a lot of ways,' she confessed. Challenging other actors who claim complete separation from their characters, she argued, 'I think it's interesting when actors are like "She's not me at all" and "I'm just playing a role" when it's impossible for that to be true. Because they have to come out of your body, which means those feelings – whether you've accepted that you've felt them or not – have to come from you.'
GQ Glory and Political Stances
Erivo is set to be honoured at the GQ Men of the Year event on November 18 in London. For the Men of the Year issue, she delivered a series of striking fashion statements, including a black leather shoulder-padded bodysuit with a cinching corset and lace-up leather gloves, complete with huge platform boots and circular glasses. Another dramatic look featured a plunging black blouse with substantial shoulder pads and a spiky headpiece.
Beyond fashion and film, Erivo didn't shy away from political topics, expressing frustration about growing animosity toward LGBTQ+ communities. 'Who I love, and who you love – nothing to do with each other,' she asserted. 'Do you love? Good. Are you in love? Great. Like, what is the problem? It is about love.'
She passionately added that if people truly understood love, they wouldn't interfere in others' relationships, concluding, 'Get it however you can get it, please. However you can find love, find it. I'll be happy for you.'
Addressing the inevitable politicisation of her work, Erivo noted, 'I think everything is political.' She reflected on frequently being told she picks controversial roles, responding, 'It's not like I set out to go, "Oh, what's controversial in that?" I just pick a thing that I feel like I want. If I was a different person, in a different body, in a different skin, it wouldn't be controversial.'
This echoes Ariana Grande's earlier comments about the same viral interview moment. Appearing on The Graham Norton Show in January, Grande admitted she had 'no idea what the f*** was going on' during the exchange, expressing relief that the public's confusion mirrored her own. She described grabbing Erivo's finger as an instinctive, well-intentioned gesture born from not knowing how else to handle the bewildering energy of the moment.
