# Back 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. ## Origin 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 wheelchair[1]. 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[1]. 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]. - **Platform:** YouTube - **Creator:** Eldraco Wooten (cameraman/recorder), Antario "Terry" Davis (subject) - **Date:** 2017 ## 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[2]. 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. ## 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[5]. Reposts hit Twitter the same day, and within a week, the catchphrase "Put it in reverse, Terry!" was everywhere[5]. The clip locked into a yearly cycle. Every Fourth of July, it floods social media feeds as a kind of seasonal tradition[8]. 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[1]. 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[2]. Jay Brislin, Quantum Rehab's vice president, told CNN: "Once we learned Terry needed a new power wheelchair, we had to help"[2]. The family customized the chair with a decal on the back reading "Oh Lawd! Back it Up, Terry's Ride"[2]. 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[5]. 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[5]. 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[8]. Journalist Winnie Wright helped amplify the campaign, noting that Terry doesn't receive any money from the unauthorized merchandise sold with his name[8]. 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[4]. 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[4]. 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[4]. 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[6]. Videos from the event were viewed millions of times within 24 hours[6]. ## How to Use 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[1][2][4]. 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[3]. 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"[1]. 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[4]. Carter has publicly warned fans to look for two marks of authenticity on official merchandise: Terry's signature and the TRIIP 3 copyright logo[4]. Terry used his platform to attend Fourth of July celebrations across the country as a special guest[7]. His 2025 Memphis parade float appearance brought the story full circle, turning a moment of accidental vulnerability into a hometown celebration[6]. ## Fun Facts - Terry's wheelchair had a backup camera installed on his replacement chair, a fitting upgrade given the meme's catchphrase[4]. - The family put a custom decal on Terry's donated wheelchair reading "Oh Lawd! Back it Up, Terry's Ride"[2]. - Terry didn't flinch during the fireworks. He simply shielded his face and watched the show from inches away[8]. - 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[4]. - Carter said her immediate reaction after confirming Terry was safe wasn't relief but opportunity: "Tell me somebody got that"[1]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Back Up Terry? Back Up Terry is a viral video from July 4, 2017, showing Antario "Terry" Davis stuck in a malfunctioning wheelchair next to lit fireworks while his cousin yells "Put it in reverse, Terry!"[1]. It resurfaces every Independence Day as a seasonal internet tradition[8]. ### Where did Back Up Terry come from? The video was filmed in Memphis, Tennessee, on July 4, 2017, and uploaded to YouTube the next day by user "Woo"[5]. Terry's cousin Eldraco Wooten was the cameraman[1]. ### What does "Put it in reverse, Terry" mean? It's a panicked plea from the cameraman telling Terry to back his motorized wheelchair away from the fireworks he just lit[1]. Online, people use the phrase as a reaction to anyone heading toward obvious trouble. ### How do you use the Back Up Terry meme? The most common use is reposting the original video around July 4th. The catchphrase "Put it in reverse, Terry!" also works as a standalone reaction to anyone who needs to retreat from a bad situation[5]. ### Is Back Up Terry still popular? Yes. The video goes viral every Fourth of July, and in 2025, Terry appeared on his own float in a Memphis Independence Day parade, with the footage pulling millions of views within hours[6]. ### Who is the real Terry in the video? His full name is Antario "Terry" Davis, a Memphis native who suffered a spinal cord injury and uses a motorized wheelchair[1]. His mother is Annette Carter, who has managed much of the family's public engagement around the video[4]. ### Why couldn't Terry move his wheelchair? The wheelchair malfunctioned right as the fireworks were lit. Carter explained that the chair shut down, and by the time it started responding again, the fireworks were already going off[1]. ### Did Terry get hurt in the video? No. Despite being inches from the fireworks, Terry was unharmed[2]. ### How did the video help Terry in real life? The viral attention led to two successful GoFundMe campaigns. The first helped secure a new wheelchair (with Quantum Rehab also donating a custom chair), and the second raised over $73,000 for a wheelchair-accessible van[8][3]. ### Does Terry make money from the merchandise? No. Most "Back It Up Terry" t-shirts sold online are unauthorized, and Terry receives no percentage of those sales[4]. The only official merchandise comes from the family's TRIIP 3 brand[4]. ### What is Quantum Rehab's connection to Terry? Quantum Rehab, a division of Pride Mobility, donated a custom power wheelchair to Terry after learning about his situation through the viral video's media coverage[3]. ## References 1. [Known for a viral video, 'Back it up, Terry' Davis needs a new wheelchair | FOX6 Milwaukee]() 2. [The Real Story Behind “Back It Up, Terry” - Blog - Mobility Scooters Direct]() 3. ['Back It Up Terry' Video: The Real Story Behind the 4th of July Viral Video - PopCulture.com]() 4. [Back Up Terry / Put It In Reverse Terry - Know Your Meme]() 5. [Translation]() 6. [Catching up with Memphis’ ‘Back it Up Terry’ | News | fox13memphis.com]() 7. [“Back It Up, Terry” star goes viral again in 4th of July parade]() 8. [Catching Up With ‘Back Up' Terry - WCCB Charlotte]() 9. [Fourth Of July Viral Sensation And ‘Put It In Reverse Terry’ Star In Need Of New Wheelchair-Accessible Van | Whiskey Riff]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/back-up-terry-put-it-in-reverse-terry Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library