The Journalist Behind That Viral “Wicked” Interview Admits She Was “Thrown” By Cynthia Erivo’s Response

“I was using that to tee up the question, and I was a little thrown off by [Cynthia’s] response because it was so sincere and real,” she went on. “I was a little flustered. I could have said: ‘I have all these friends, and this is our conversation.’ But instead, I said: ‘I’m in queer media.’”

Tracy also defined exactly what she meant by “holding space,” telling the publication: “‘Holding space’ is being physically, emotionally and mentally present with someone or something. For me, it means being in the moment, not being distracted and feeling something on a cellular level.”

“I think you can hold space with lyrics of a song — one you’ve heard hundreds of times — and it can suddenly take on new meaning when you’re a queer person,” she explained. “When Cynthia sings: ‘I’m through accepting limits,’ there’s power in that. She plays a character who is othered. One who comes to her full power when she is exiled by a charlatan, by a cruel leader.”

“There’s a lot of resonance there right now for anyone who is marginalized. For me, holding space is listening to those lyrics anew and finding solace or inspiration,” Tracy concluded.