Back Up Terry Put It In Reverse Terry

2017Viral video / catchphraseactive

Also known as: Back It Up Terry · Put It In Reverse Terry

Back Up Terry Put It In Reverse Terry is a 2017 viral video of Memphis man Antario Davis trapped in a malfunctioning wheelchair next to fireworks, immortalized by his cousin's frantic shouts.

"Back Up Terry" (also known as "Put It In Reverse Terry") is a viral video from July 4, 2017, showing a Memphis man named Antario "Terry" Davis stuck in a malfunctioning motorized wheelchair next to lit fireworks while his cousin frantically shouts "Back up, Terry! Put it in reverse, Terry!" The clip became one of the internet's most iconic Fourth of July memes, resurfacing annually across social media platforms. Beyond the laughs, the video's virality led to real-life fundraising that got Terry a new wheelchair, a custom van, and eventually his own float in a Memphis Independence Day parade.

fourth of july memescatchphrase memesaccidental fame memesstreet footage memesannual tradition memes

Overview

The original clip runs about a minute long. Terry Davis, who uses a motorized wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury, lights a firework on a residential street. After the fuse catches, he tries to back his wheelchair away, but the chair malfunctions and won't move2. His cousin Eldraco Wooten, who is filming the whole thing, starts yelling with increasing urgency: "Back up, back up Terry! Put it in reverse, Terry!"1 Terry ends up shielding his face and sitting through the fireworks at point-blank range, seemingly unbothered by the sparks and smoke. Once it's clear nobody got hurt, Wooten bursts into laughter. The mix of genuine panic, relief, and Terry's unflappable composure made it an instant classic.

On July 5, 2017, the video was uploaded to YouTube by a user called "Woo"5. The footage was shot the previous day during a Fourth of July celebration in Memphis, Tennessee. Eldraco Wooten recorded his cousin Antario "Terry" Davis as Terry attempted to light fireworks from his wheelchair1. Davis had been using a wheelchair since suffering a spinal cord injury years earlier. His mother, Annette Carter, later explained that Terry's hand shakes from the injury, which is why it took him a while to light the fuse. During that delay, his wheelchair shut down1.

Carter recalled the family's reaction: everyone was screaming, worried Terry would get hurt. But once they saw he was fine, her first thought was practical: "I said, 'Tell me somebody got that'"1.

Origin & Background

Platform
YouTube
Key People
Eldraco Wooten, Antario "Terry" Davis
Date
2017

On July 5, 2017, the video was uploaded to YouTube by a user called "Woo". The footage was shot the previous day during a Fourth of July celebration in Memphis, Tennessee. Eldraco Wooten recorded his cousin Antario "Terry" Davis as Terry attempted to light fireworks from his wheelchair. Davis had been using a wheelchair since suffering a spinal cord injury years earlier. His mother, Annette Carter, later explained that Terry's hand shakes from the injury, which is why it took him a while to light the fuse. During that delay, his wheelchair shut down.

Carter recalled the family's reaction: everyone was screaming, worried Terry would get hurt. But once they saw he was fine, her first thought was practical: "I said, 'Tell me somebody got that'".

How It Spread

The video blew up fast. Later on July 5, 2017, YouTuber Ronalf reposted the clip, and that version outpaced the original, pulling in roughly 14.8 million views and 378,000 likes over six years. Reposts hit Twitter the same day, and within a week, the catchphrase "Put it in reverse, Terry!" was everywhere.

The clip locked into a yearly cycle. Every Fourth of July, it floods social media feeds as a kind of seasonal tradition. Major accounts, meme pages, and news outlets repost it like clockwork.

By 2019, the video had moved beyond humor into real impact. Terry's family shared that his wheelchair was breaking down and insurance wouldn't cover a replacement. Carter started a GoFundMe campaign. As the fundraiser picked up momentum online, Quantum Rehab, a division of Pride Mobility, stepped in and donated a brand-new custom power wheelchair with iLevel technology. Jay Brislin, Quantum Rehab's vice president, told CNN: "Once we learned Terry needed a new power wheelchair, we had to help". The family customized the chair with a decal on the back reading "Oh Lawd! Back it Up, Terry's Ride".

Meme creators also started inserting Terry into other settings around 2019. A Minecraft version appeared on YouTube in July 2019, and a Super Mario 64 edit followed in December 2019. The format moved to TikTok in the 2020s. In July 2022, TikToker @joemartel3 posted a recreation that pulled roughly 45.6 million plays and 3.9 million likes in a single year.

In 2023, another GoFundMe was launched because Terry's wheelchair-accessible van had broken beyond repair. The campaign aimed for $70,000 and exceeded its goal, reaching over $73,000. Journalist Winnie Wright helped amplify the campaign, noting that Terry doesn't receive any money from the unauthorized merchandise sold with his name.

By 2024, FOX13 Memphis caught up with Terry, reporting he had both a new wheelchair (equipped with a backup camera) and a new sprinter van. Terry said he enjoys being recognized while traveling but was surprised his hometown of Memphis hadn't invited him to local Fourth of July celebrations. The city responded quickly. Penelope Huston, a Memphis spokeswoman, told FOX13 she was shocked the city had never included Terry and committed to making it happen.

That promise came through in 2025. Terry appeared in a Memphis Independence Day parade riding atop his own custom float decorated with red, white, and blue fireworks and "Back It Up" signs. Videos from the event were viewed millions of times within 24 hours.

Media

How to Use This Meme

The "Back Up Terry" meme typically works in a few ways:

- Direct repost: Share the original video (or a clip of it) around the Fourth of July, often with a caption like "Happy 4th" or "Annual reminder." - Catchphrase use: Drop "Put it in reverse, Terry!" as a reaction to any situation where someone needs to get out of danger, is making a bad decision, or is headed toward obvious trouble. - Video edit format: Insert Terry's wheelchair footage or the audio into other contexts. Creators commonly place Terry in video game environments (Minecraft, Mario 64) or splice the audio over unrelated disaster clips. - Recreation: Film your own version mimicking the setup, often with fireworks and a chair.

The meme works best when someone is clearly in over their head but handling it with composure, or when retreat is the only sane option.

Cultural Impact

What started as a fireworks blooper turned into a story about community support and internet generosity. Multiple news outlets covered Terry's story, including CNN, FOX6 Milwaukee, FOX13 Memphis, and PopCulture.com. The video brought attention to the real costs of mobility equipment and the challenges wheelchair users face with insurance coverage.

Quantum Rehab's wheelchair donation was widely covered as an example of corporate goodwill driven by viral attention. Terry's mother Carter noted that strangers from across the country reached out to help: "So many people have been so nice, trying to reach out and help us out".

However, the viral fame came with downsides. Unauthorized "Back It Up Terry" t-shirts flooded online retailers like Google Shopping results, and none of the revenue went to Terry or his family. Carter has publicly warned fans to look for two marks of authenticity on official merchandise: Terry's signature and the TRIIP 3 copyright logo.

Terry used his platform to attend Fourth of July celebrations across the country as a special guest. His 2025 Memphis parade float appearance brought the story full circle, turning a moment of accidental vulnerability into a hometown celebration.

Fun Facts

Terry's wheelchair had a backup camera installed on his replacement chair, a fitting upgrade given the meme's catchphrase.

The family put a custom decal on Terry's donated wheelchair reading "Oh Lawd! Back it Up, Terry's Ride".

Terry didn't flinch during the fireworks. He simply shielded his face and watched the show from inches away.

Despite being one of the internet's most recognized Fourth of July figures, Memphis didn't invite Terry to its city celebrations until FOX13 intervened in 2024.

Carter said her immediate reaction after confirming Terry was safe wasn't relief but opportunity: "Tell me somebody got that".

Derivatives & Variations

Minecraft edit:

A July 2019 YouTube video by Gam:D placed Terry's wheelchair scene inside Minecraft, gaining around 4,300 views[5].

Super Mario 64 edit:

A December 2019 edit originally posted by Instagram user @ins.step (since deleted) placed Terry in a Mario 64 environment, later reposted on YouTube by fatcat with roughly 22,900 views[5].

TikTok recreations:

TikToker @joemartel3 posted a recreation in July 2022 that hit 45.6 million plays[5].

Official merchandise:

The family launched an official line under the brand TRIIP 3, featuring Terry's signature and copyright logo on t-shirts[4].

Frequently Asked Questions

Back Up Terry Put It In Reverse Terry

2017Viral video / catchphraseactive

Also known as: Back It Up Terry · Put It In Reverse Terry

Back Up Terry Put It In Reverse Terry is a 2017 viral video of Memphis man Antario Davis trapped in a malfunctioning wheelchair next to fireworks, immortalized by his cousin's frantic shouts.

"Back Up Terry" (also known as "Put It In Reverse Terry") is a viral video from July 4, 2017, showing a Memphis man named Antario "Terry" Davis stuck in a malfunctioning motorized wheelchair next to lit fireworks while his cousin frantically shouts "Back up, Terry! Put it in reverse, Terry!" The clip became one of the internet's most iconic Fourth of July memes, resurfacing annually across social media platforms. Beyond the laughs, the video's virality led to real-life fundraising that got Terry a new wheelchair, a custom van, and eventually his own float in a Memphis Independence Day parade.

fourth of july memes catchphrase memes accidental fame memes street footage memes annual tradition memes

Overview

The original clip runs about a minute long. Terry Davis, who uses a motorized wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury, lights a firework on a residential street. After the fuse catches, he tries to back his wheelchair away, but the chair malfunctions and won't move. His cousin Eldraco Wooten, who is filming the whole thing, starts yelling with increasing urgency: "Back up, back up Terry! Put it in reverse, Terry!" Terry ends up shielding his face and sitting through the fireworks at point-blank range, seemingly unbothered by the sparks and smoke. Once it's clear nobody got hurt, Wooten bursts into laughter. The mix of genuine panic, relief, and Terry's unflappable composure made it an instant classic.

On July 5, 2017, the video was uploaded to YouTube by a user called "Woo". The footage was shot the previous day during a Fourth of July celebration in Memphis, Tennessee. Eldraco Wooten recorded his cousin Antario "Terry" Davis as Terry attempted to light fireworks from his wheelchair. Davis had been using a wheelchair since suffering a spinal cord injury years earlier. His mother, Annette Carter, later explained that Terry's hand shakes from the injury, which is why it took him a while to light the fuse. During that delay, his wheelchair shut down.

Carter recalled the family's reaction: everyone was screaming, worried Terry would get hurt. But once they saw he was fine, her first thought was practical: "I said, 'Tell me somebody got that'".

Origin & Background

Platform
YouTube
Key People
Eldraco Wooten, Antario "Terry" Davis
Date
2017

On July 5, 2017, the video was uploaded to YouTube by a user called "Woo". The footage was shot the previous day during a Fourth of July celebration in Memphis, Tennessee. Eldraco Wooten recorded his cousin Antario "Terry" Davis as Terry attempted to light fireworks from his wheelchair. Davis had been using a wheelchair since suffering a spinal cord injury years earlier. His mother, Annette Carter, later explained that Terry's hand shakes from the injury, which is why it took him a while to light the fuse. During that delay, his wheelchair shut down.

Carter recalled the family's reaction: everyone was screaming, worried Terry would get hurt. But once they saw he was fine, her first thought was practical: "I said, 'Tell me somebody got that'".

How It Spread

The video blew up fast. Later on July 5, 2017, YouTuber Ronalf reposted the clip, and that version outpaced the original, pulling in roughly 14.8 million views and 378,000 likes over six years. Reposts hit Twitter the same day, and within a week, the catchphrase "Put it in reverse, Terry!" was everywhere.

The clip locked into a yearly cycle. Every Fourth of July, it floods social media feeds as a kind of seasonal tradition. Major accounts, meme pages, and news outlets repost it like clockwork.

By 2019, the video had moved beyond humor into real impact. Terry's family shared that his wheelchair was breaking down and insurance wouldn't cover a replacement. Carter started a GoFundMe campaign. As the fundraiser picked up momentum online, Quantum Rehab, a division of Pride Mobility, stepped in and donated a brand-new custom power wheelchair with iLevel technology. Jay Brislin, Quantum Rehab's vice president, told CNN: "Once we learned Terry needed a new power wheelchair, we had to help". The family customized the chair with a decal on the back reading "Oh Lawd! Back it Up, Terry's Ride".

Meme creators also started inserting Terry into other settings around 2019. A Minecraft version appeared on YouTube in July 2019, and a Super Mario 64 edit followed in December 2019. The format moved to TikTok in the 2020s. In July 2022, TikToker @joemartel3 posted a recreation that pulled roughly 45.6 million plays and 3.9 million likes in a single year.

In 2023, another GoFundMe was launched because Terry's wheelchair-accessible van had broken beyond repair. The campaign aimed for $70,000 and exceeded its goal, reaching over $73,000. Journalist Winnie Wright helped amplify the campaign, noting that Terry doesn't receive any money from the unauthorized merchandise sold with his name.

By 2024, FOX13 Memphis caught up with Terry, reporting he had both a new wheelchair (equipped with a backup camera) and a new sprinter van. Terry said he enjoys being recognized while traveling but was surprised his hometown of Memphis hadn't invited him to local Fourth of July celebrations. The city responded quickly. Penelope Huston, a Memphis spokeswoman, told FOX13 she was shocked the city had never included Terry and committed to making it happen.

That promise came through in 2025. Terry appeared in a Memphis Independence Day parade riding atop his own custom float decorated with red, white, and blue fireworks and "Back It Up" signs. Videos from the event were viewed millions of times within 24 hours.

Media

How to Use This Meme

The "Back Up Terry" meme typically works in a few ways:

- Direct repost: Share the original video (or a clip of it) around the Fourth of July, often with a caption like "Happy 4th" or "Annual reminder." - Catchphrase use: Drop "Put it in reverse, Terry!" as a reaction to any situation where someone needs to get out of danger, is making a bad decision, or is headed toward obvious trouble. - Video edit format: Insert Terry's wheelchair footage or the audio into other contexts. Creators commonly place Terry in video game environments (Minecraft, Mario 64) or splice the audio over unrelated disaster clips. - Recreation: Film your own version mimicking the setup, often with fireworks and a chair.

The meme works best when someone is clearly in over their head but handling it with composure, or when retreat is the only sane option.

Cultural Impact

What started as a fireworks blooper turned into a story about community support and internet generosity. Multiple news outlets covered Terry's story, including CNN, FOX6 Milwaukee, FOX13 Memphis, and PopCulture.com. The video brought attention to the real costs of mobility equipment and the challenges wheelchair users face with insurance coverage.

Quantum Rehab's wheelchair donation was widely covered as an example of corporate goodwill driven by viral attention. Terry's mother Carter noted that strangers from across the country reached out to help: "So many people have been so nice, trying to reach out and help us out".

However, the viral fame came with downsides. Unauthorized "Back It Up Terry" t-shirts flooded online retailers like Google Shopping results, and none of the revenue went to Terry or his family. Carter has publicly warned fans to look for two marks of authenticity on official merchandise: Terry's signature and the TRIIP 3 copyright logo.

Terry used his platform to attend Fourth of July celebrations across the country as a special guest. His 2025 Memphis parade float appearance brought the story full circle, turning a moment of accidental vulnerability into a hometown celebration.

Fun Facts

Terry's wheelchair had a backup camera installed on his replacement chair, a fitting upgrade given the meme's catchphrase.

The family put a custom decal on Terry's donated wheelchair reading "Oh Lawd! Back it Up, Terry's Ride".

Terry didn't flinch during the fireworks. He simply shielded his face and watched the show from inches away.

Despite being one of the internet's most recognized Fourth of July figures, Memphis didn't invite Terry to its city celebrations until FOX13 intervened in 2024.

Carter said her immediate reaction after confirming Terry was safe wasn't relief but opportunity: "Tell me somebody got that".

Derivatives & Variations

Minecraft edit:

A July 2019 YouTube video by Gam:D placed Terry's wheelchair scene inside Minecraft, gaining around 4,300 views[5].

Super Mario 64 edit:

A December 2019 edit originally posted by Instagram user @ins.step (since deleted) placed Terry in a Mario 64 environment, later reposted on YouTube by fatcat with roughly 22,900 views[5].

TikTok recreations:

TikToker @joemartel3 posted a recreation in July 2022 that hit 45.6 million plays[5].

Official merchandise:

The family launched an official line under the brand TRIIP 3, featuring Terry's signature and copyright logo on t-shirts[4].

Frequently Asked Questions