Rapper and singer Lil Nas X’s “Satan Shoes,” a collaboration with NYC art collective MSCHF, sold out on Monday in less than a minute after it was launched. The controversial black and red Nike Air Max 97 sneakers feature a bronze pentagram, an inverted cross, and a drop of real human blood.
The firm released the 666 shoes for $1,018 each—taken from Luke 10:18 in the Bible which reads: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Also, each shoe’s air bubble sole reportedly contains 60 cubic centimeters of red ink and “one drop” of human blood, according to MSCHF.
The blood was provided by members of the art collective, an MSCHF spokesperson told CNN. He added: “We love to sacrifice for our art.” The company previously released a pair of custom-made Jesus shoes in 2019.
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The launch of the shoes irked many conservatives, Christians, and sportswear giant Nike. The shoes went on sale online on Monday. MSCHF co-founder Daniel Greenberg confirmed the shoe sold out in under a minute. Business Insider reported that “at the listed price, the release adds up to nearly $700,000 in sales.”
The Old Town Road hitmaker was the target of his critics, among whom included Candace Owens, who tweeted: “We are promoting Satan shoes to wear on our feet. We’ve got Cardi B named as woman of the year. But we’re convinced it’s white supremacy that’s keeping black America behind. How stupid can we be?”
While Owens made an argument against what she believes is the destruction of the future for African-American youth, another Black pro-conservative voice, Pastor Mark Burns who supported Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 also chimed in. Burns said the shoe project is “why we Christians must be prayed up ready to battle in the spirit with the Voice of the Holy Spirit.”
Meanwhile, Nike denied their involvement with the shoe in a statement on Sunday. “We do not have a relationship with Little Nas X or MSCHF…Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them,” Nike said in a statement.
On Monday, the Athletic shoemaker sued MSCHF, saying the New York-based company infringed on and diluted its trademark with the black-and-red, devil-themed shoes, according to Reuters.
In the lawsuit filed at the New York federal court, Nike said the sneakers were produced “without [its] approval and authorization,” and the company was “in no way connected with this project.”
“There is already evidence of significant confusion and dilution occurring in the marketplace, including calls to boycott Nike in response to the launch of MSCHF’s Satan Shoes based on the mistaken belief that Nike has authorized or approved this product,” the lawsuit said.
Nike also wants the court to order MSCHF to immediately “stop” fulfilling orders for the “unauthorized” Lil Nas X Satan Shoes.
