In the final weeks of 2024, holding space (and fingers) became ubiquitous due to my interview with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for Wicked. Just two days following the re-election of Donald Trump when I interviewed them on the NBC Universal lot, I teed up a question for Erivo saying, “This week, people have been holding space for the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really feeling power in that.” Erivo, Out magazine's Icon of the Year and cover star, with great sincerity, raising a hand to her chest, and Grande grabbed her finger in a moment of solidarity.
A meme was born. Journalists began to question what the term holding space, which had been discussed in therapy circles for years, meant following the exchange. At the same time, so many leaned in and began to hold space with one another, ironically or not.
That particular interview had my face and voice flashed across TV and device screens for several weeks while pundits and TikTokers debated what “holding space” meant and if I was merely trying to make Erivo and Grande cry again, as they had multiple times during the Wicked press tour. But I have been holding space for the artists and activists I interview for years. Discussing the viral moment on his Las Culturistas podcast, Wicked costar Bowen Yang said, “I’ve been interviewed by Tracy Gilchrist, and she holds space.” On herHandsomepodcast with Tig Notaro and Mae Martin and on the Two Dykes and a Mic podcast, comedian Fortune Feimster, who I’ve interviewed at least half a dozen times, echoed Yang’s sentiment that I indeed hold space for people.
The interview with Erivo and Grande, though the most impactful in its reach, was one of dozens of moments in 2024 interviews when I leaned into sincerity and/or humor. I'm grateful that I am in queer media and that I can ask questions about LGBTQ+ identity and social issues in ways that matter to me, and I hope, to our audience. Before I enter a physical or virtual room with an artist I'm about to interview, I watch and synthesize the material, typically a film or TV show, and I research their career and interests. I search for the queer, feminist, and social justice aspects of their work and frame my questions around those elements. I also try to inject humor when it makes sense.
Finally, when I've framed my question and asked it, I wait for them to consider the question and answer without interrupting or stepping on their words (to the extent that it's possible, especially over Zoom). From research to prepping my questions to listening attentively, this is how I hold space for artists doing work that I admire. As the interview goes out into the world, I hope that those watching feel as though I've held space for them too in my attempts to dive into the art and media permeating our lives.
I’ve broken out a few of my favorite interviews of the year, including the viral moment and the subsequent interview for A Complete Unknown where Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, and I held space for each other with a lot of laughter. Here are some of my favorites from 2024.
Reneé Rapp and Christopher Briney for Mean Girls:
Andrew Scott for Ripley:
Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian, and Rose Glass for Love Lies Bleeding:
Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist for Challengers:
Zendaya and Florence Pugh for Dune: Part Two:
Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum for Fly Me to the Moon:
Ariana DeBose for House of Spoils:
Cate Blanchett and Denis Ménochet for Rumours:
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for Wicked:
Jonathan Bailey and Jeff Goldblum for Wicked:
Timothee Chalamet and Elle Fanning for A Complete Unknown:
