After the release of his new music video, MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name), rapper Lil Nas X decided to sell his new brand of Nike-inspired merchandise. However, the release of the celebrity’s new shoes have now sprung up conflict between him and the entire Nike industry alongside Christians.
Recently, MSCHF, a Brooklyn-based shoe company, formed a partnership with Lil’ Nas X in order to host a limited sale on Satan shoes.
Over 600 pairs of Satan shoes went on the market, with each one priced at $1,018 (referencing the Luke 10:18 Bible Verse). MSCHF stated that the shoes were sold out immediately afterwards.
USA TODAY News claims that the Nike industry released a trademark lawsuit filed against the person behind the shoes’ design on social media.
It’s been confirmed that Nike didn’t give either Lil Nas or MSCHF permission to go into production for the Satan Shoes. Nike also demands that the company prevents any further marketing for the footwear.
Kristi Noem (Republican Governor of South Dakota) tweeted that “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. We’re in a fight for the soul of our nation.”
Lil Nas’ X sent out a response saying that Noem is a Republican governor, and she shouldn’t be complaining about some pairs of shoes.
According to NBC News, workers from MSCHF had their blood extracted in order to place it into the shoes’ soles. Critics had been sending in complaints to the rapper and company throughout the Palm Sunday weekend.
Pastor Mark Burns tweeted that the human blood in the shoes is “why we Christians must be prayed up ready to battle in the spirit with the Voice of the Holy Spirit. This is evil & heresy and I pray that Christians rise up against this.”
WA State Representative candidate Amber Krabach said to Nike that “when someone asks you to make Satan shoes under your brand… YOU SAY NO!”
As stated by the Rolling Stone, the rapper had the shoes designed as unofficial variations of Nike's Air Max 97 sneakers. Because of that, MSCHF is facing a lawsuit served by Nike due to their plagiarism of one of the company’s products.
They released a statement linked to satan.shoes regarding the lawsuit, stating that they “are not affiliated with Nike, as we have consistently iterated to the press. [They] were honestly surprised by the action Nike has taken, and immediately after Nike’s counsel sent [them] notice [they] reached out but received no response”.
Montero Lamar Hill (Lil Nas X’s real name) uploaded a Youtube video containing his apology towards the Satan shoes.
The rapper explains that his relationship with a guy last summer inspired the idea for his new song “Montero (Call me By Your Name)”.
The rapper wrote, “I know we promised to never come out publicly, I know we promised to never be ‘that’ type of gay person, I know we promised to die with the secret, but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist.”
