Picture this: Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning are sitting at a press junket for their new movie A Complete Unknown—a Bob Dylan biopic where, spoiler alert, no one knows who anyone is. But instead of dishing on Dylan, the two end up fangirling harder than a Belieber at a Justin Bieber concert. The reason? One Tracy Gilchrist, the internet’s reigning “queer media” queen and viral sensation.
Tracy struts in, exuding the kind of confidence that says, “Yes, I’ve seen all the memes about me, and yes, I do hold space better than your therapist.” She starts the interview with her now-iconic phrase: “First, I just want to let you know that I am holding space for you.”
Cue the chaos.
Elle Fanning, usually the epitome of grace, is visibly shook. “I’m starstruck,” she gushes, practically clutching her pearls (if pearls were her thing). Timothée, never one to be outdone in the dramatics department, chimes in, “Yeah, I am starstruck,” and then—because why not—extends his finger like he’s E.T. phoning home.
What does Elle do? She grabs it. With two fingers. Not one. Not three. Two. The internet has no choice but to crown this the most delicate and absurd reenactment of Ariana Grande holding Cynthia Erivo’s finger during their Wicked promo.
Laughter erupts. Space is officially held. Somewhere, Bob Dylan is rolling his eyes and scribbling cryptic lyrics about all this.
But why is Tracy Gilchrist such a big deal? Flashback to November, when she interviewed Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo about Wicked and casually blew up the internet by turning “Defying Gravity” into a whole new vibe. People posted memes. People held space. And now, Timmy and Elle are here, living their best fangirl lives.
Check out the video below, and remember: Next time you meet a viral journalist, bring your A-game—and maybe your fingers.
