Lil Nas X teamed up with MSCHF to create a limited edition sneaker.
Sports giant Nike is taking legal action in relation to rapper Lil Nas X’s ‘Satan Shoes’.
The company filed a lawsuit on Monday over MSCHF Product Studio’s modification and sale of 666 pairs of Nike shoes.
All 666 pairs sold out immediately.
Nike is suing the art collective for copyright infringement. Lil Nas X’s name does not appear on the lawsuit.
The ‘Satan Shoes’ were released in conjunction with the rapper’s latest hell-themed music video Montero (Call Me By Your Name). In the video, Lil Nas X plays a demon who gives Satan a lap dance.
While the new release was a hit with fans, the video caused controversy among some religious groups. In fact, there were calls to boycott Nike following the release of Lil Nas X’s unauthorised designs.
MSCHF x Lil Nas X "Satan Shoes" 🏹
👟Nike Air Max '97
🩸Contains 60cc ink and 1 drop of human blood
🗡️666 Pairs, individually numbered
💰$1,018
🗓️March 29th, 2021 pic.twitter.com/XUMA9TKGSX— SAINT (@saint) March 26, 2021
In their statement, Nike says: “MSCHF and its unauthorized Satan Shoes are likely to cause confusion and dilution and create an erroneous association between MSCHF’s products and Nike.
“In the short time since the announcement of the Satan Shoes, Nike has suffered significant harm to its goodwill, including among consumers who believe that Nike is endorsing satanism.
“Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CNBOxDVlvyO/
Additionally, the shoes in question feature a bronze pentagram and a drop of human blood.
Before the controversial music video was released, Lil Nas X wrote an emotional letter to his 14 year-old self, which resonated with a huge number of his fans.
“Dear 14 year old montero,” he wrote. “I know we promised to never come out publicly, I know we promised never to be “that” type of gay person, I know we promised to die with this secret, but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CM3i2RelCkK/
“You see this is very scary for me, people will be angry, they will say I’m pushing an agenda. But the truth is, I am. The agenda to make people stay the fuck out of other people’s lives and stop dictating who they should be.”
