It’s been more than a month since “Wicked” hit theaters but the internet is still holding space for more ways to celebrate the blockbuster musical adaptation, which took home the Golden Globe this past weekend for box office achievement.
While Universal churned out record levels of promotional merch ahead of the film’s Nov. release, rivaling that of Greta Gerwig’s cotton candy-hued “Barbie,” some of of the best “Wicked”-inspired products have come out in the weeks since its release — with fan-made shirts, mugs, hats and more nodding at many of the viral moments that have occurred throughout the film’s buzzy press cycle.
One such moment? When journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist told Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande that “people are taking the lyrics to ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that.”
“I didn’t know that that was happening,” Erivo responded in the now-viral moment.
“I’ve seen it on a couple posts, I don’t know how widespread. But I am in queer media,” added Gilchrist.
Immediately, the internet ran wild with the footage, with countless memes generated poking fun at the deep sincerity of the exchange, which contained little information but somehow widely resonated with the stars. Grande, supporting her co-lead, reached for Erivo’s hand but wound up cradling her formidable fingernail instead, a moment that went viral on its own.
After being propelled into worldwide fame from the viral moment, Gilchrist told Variety that friends of hers urged her to capitalize on the moment with merch. But “I’m a lot slower than the internet. I’m already seeing the T-shirts and the ballcaps,” she said. “A friend of mine was at a gay bar in Minneapolis this weekend, and said someone was wearing a shirt with my face on it. I have not considered the full breadth of what this might be.”
Until Gilchrist opens her own “Holding Space” storefront, shop some of the best fan-made merch below: