Lil Nas X and streetwear company MSCHF have sold out of their new collaborative “Satan Shoes,” which are a reimagined version of Nike Air Max 97s. Though the footwear rollout involved Nike kicks, the international brand is denouncing any involvement and suing the design company over the shoes, which reportedly contain human blood in each sole.
The “Montero” hip-hop artist put out 666 pairs of the controversial shoes Monday, and they were all gone shortly after release at 11 a.m., according to an NBC News report. The shoes are adorned with a pentagram pendant and a reference to the Bible verse Luke 10:18, which talks about Satan’s fall from heaven. The sneakers also reportedly contain one drop of human blood, drawn from employees of the MSCHF team, in each of the soles of the footwear, a company representative told NBC on Sunday.
The shoes sold at $1,018 per pair, but the price is not what many critics found dubious. Instead, some found issue with the metro Atlanta-based musician promoting the custom shoes during the Palm Sunday and Easter holiday. The rapper, who hails from Douglas County, said he was not regretful about releasing the shoes nor his recent video for “Montero,” which displays him giving a lap dance to a computer-generated version of Satan. “I made the decision to create the music video. i am an adult. i am not gonna spend my entire career trying to cater to your children. that is your job,” he responded to someone who complained about the video.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said parents need to “fight hard” against those who created a product that she said could be spiritually damaging to children.
“Our kids are being told that this kind of product is, not only okay, it’s “exclusive.” But do you know what’s more exclusive? Their God-given eternal soul,” Noem tweeted Sunday.
A South Carolina pastor, Mark Burns, posted about the collaboration over the weekend, labeling the business venture as steeped in “evil and heresy.” He also called out Nike in his tweet about Lil Nas X’s new shoes.
“We do not have a relationship with Little Nas X or MSCHF,” Nike said in a statement. “Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them.”
Despite that, many put blame on the footwear giant for allowing such alterations to be monetized and promoted.
Nike announced late Monday afternoon that it plans to sue MSCHF for tampering with its classic Air Max shoes, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ. Nike is suing for trademark infringement because its famous Swoosh logo is still prominently featured on the sneakers. The company also wants a judge to block all sales of the “Satan Shoes.”
Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Hill, indirectly responded to the Nike lawsuit Monday afternoon, insinuating that he would suffer a financial blow from the suit.
While some shared disappointment with Lil Nas X’s business venture, other fans seemed to regret that they weren’t able to get one of the coveted pairs that sold out Monday. The product struck a chord with fans and celebrity athletes including Trevor Lawrence and Nick Young.
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