A memorable moment between Taylor Swift and Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo happened during the 2025 Grammy Awards. Swift was seen holding Erivo’s finger in a way that reminded many fans of the viral “holding space” moment from Wicked’s press tour which has since become a viral moment itself. Here’s everything fans need to know about the moment between the two stars at the Grammy Awards.
Taylor Swift and Cynthia Erivo’s ‘holding space’ moment explained
Taylor Swift and Cynthia Erivo were spotted sitting next to each other in a video of the 2025 Grammy Awards. Errivo can be seen raising her hand which had long stylized fingernails. Swift, who had been admiring them, was seen holding on to their tips, before turning away and laughing.
The gesture reminded many fans of a moment between Erivo and her Wicked co-star Ariana Grande during the film’s press tour that went viral online. They then took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their thoughts.
“IF ARIANA CAME WE’D PROBABLY GET SO MUCH TAYRIANA THIS IS SO SAD,” one fan wrote on X.
Meanwhile, another fan reacted, “THE DUO WE NEVER KNEW WE NEEDED.”
The “holding space” moment came from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s interview with Out Magazine in November 2024. Interviewer Tracy E. Gilchrist told the two about how the lyrics of the song “Defying Gravity” led to people “holding space” for and “feeling power” in it. This seemed to surprise and move Erivo, and Grande responded by holding onto one of Erivo’s fingers as a show of support.
Both Grande and Erivo later expressed confusion at the “holding space” phenomenon created by their Out Magazine interview moment, in an interview with Variety. However, Erivo was also delighted by its popularity, saying she loved how it became “vernacular.” “I want a T-shirt with ‘holding space’ on it,” she added. Gilchrist defined the term “holding space” to Variety as the state of “being physically, emotionally, and mentally present with someone or something.”
