Why are people 'holding space' for Defying Gravity? The viral Wicked meme explained

The "holding space" meme from Wicked goes viral as fans humorously connect with the empowering Defying Gravity song.

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A viral meme about "holding space" for Defying Gravity, the iconic song from Wicked, has taken over social media, particularly on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). 

The phrase "holding space" first caught attention during a Wicked press tour interview. Journalist Tracey E. Gilchrist told stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande that fans were “holding space” for the empowering lyrics of Defying Gravity. This unexpected comment led to a touching moment, as both Erivo and Grande were visibly moved, though they didn’t fully understand the phrase.

I’ve seen people are taking the lyrics of defying gravity and really holding space wow I didn’t know that was happening Cynthia Erick ariana grande wicked interview hold space holding finger Wicked movie film pic.twitter.com/ePushcYsAW

— Brian’s Reaction Videos (@celestesangels) November 22, 2024

The viral meme quickly spread due to the phrase’s ambiguous yet powerful nature. Social media users began sharing videos humorously claiming they were "holding space" for various activities, from work tasks to everyday chores, all while linking it to the song's empowering message.

they were the first to take the lyrics of defying gravity and really hold space with that pic.twitter.com/lZ7GffsK3r

— andres (@barbzforbernie) November 21, 2024

the people holding space for Defying Gravity in question: https://t.co/rIkkXpB1ji pic.twitter.com/lCAurZ907L

— Raphael (@Lorofous) November 22, 2024

Me after holding space for defying gravity pic.twitter.com/bo78IKrUvE

— Barbara Beansprout 🇵🇸 (@jermyjpg) November 23, 2024

I tried to show the "holding space for the lyrics of Defying Gravity" meme to my husband and he says it's not funny because he doesn't understand it 😭😭😭

— 🥓 Rylee 🥓 (@rybacon00) November 27, 2024

In a subsequent interview with Variety, Gilchrist explained that “holding space” means being emotionally and mentally present for a person or a moment. It’s about offering undivided attention and feeling deeply connected to something. For many fans, especially those in the queer community, Defying Gravity represents self-empowerment, which made the phrase resonate even more.

What started as a playful misunderstanding has turned into a fun, relatable meme. Fans of Wicked are now using the meme as a way to engage with the musical and each other, adding humor to their everyday lives while embracing the song’s deeper meaning.