MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Seven years ago, a fireworks mishap took place in a Memphis neighborhood. After the family had time to catch their breath and eventually laugh off the incident, video got put on YouTube, and by 2019, it went viral.
The video shows Antario "Terry" Davis as his motorized wheelchair fails just as store-bought fireworks begin going off inches away from him. The frenzied cries of the cameraman yelling "Back it up, Terry! Put it in reverse, Terry!" led to Davis being known around the world as "Back it Up Terry."
As the Fox station in Memphis reports, the viral video led to thousands of dollars being donated to Terry from people around the world. His mother, Annette Carter, said they used the money to get Terry a functional wheelchair as well as a customized van.
"I really do appreciate how they helped me out," Terry said.
That van has come into good use, helping Terry travel to host Fourth of July celebrations in cities across the United States - except, oddly enough, his hometown of Memphis.
"It has surprised me. And I'm like, 'Come on, man. My hometown ain't representing me,'" Davis said.
However, that could change, after the Memphis Fox station reached out to city officials who say they will now work with the family to bring Terry to next year's Independence Day celebration.
While the video has brought a lot of good to Terry and his family, it's also brought out the fraudsters trying to make a buck off his name. A quick Google search shows many sites where people can buy "Back it Up Terry" gear, but none of that money actually goes to Terry, who said, "I don't think that's right."
Buying legitimate Back it Up Terry goods from family-approved sources helps the family pay for the gas used in the van.
"It's going to have his signature on it," said Carter. "[It will also have] a copyright logo and the word 'TRIIP-3'."