Nike never approved Lil Nas X ‘Satan Shoes’ that contain real human blood

Lil Nas X lived in everyone’s mind rent-free this weekend after he released the music video for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” but that wasn’t the only reason. The “Old Town Road” artist also shared details about his new controversial kicks that did not sit well with most of the internet.

Lil Nas X announced his collaboration with streetwear company MSCHF on a pair of “Satan Shoes.” There were only 666 pairs of shoes created, and they contain a drop of real human blood in the sole from members of the MSCHF team. 

The sneakers are modified Nike Air Max 97s, and they are decorated with reference to Luke 10:18, a Bible verse about Satan’s fall from heaven. They also include a pentagram pendant and they are priced at $1,018. MSCHF previously released their own "Jesus Shoe," which included a steel crucifix and holy water from the Jordan River in 2019.

Lil Nas X’s new shoes drew criticism and outrage over the weekend. Many people criticized Nike for working with Lil Nas X on a shoe that contained actual human blood.

Nike was quick to distance itself from the "Satan Shoes" and said that they never approved of the design or collaboration. "We do not have a relationship with Little Nas X or MSCHF," the company said. "Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them."

Nike has filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against MSCHF after many people believed it was involved with the shoes. Lil Nas X was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. 

The lawsuit argues that Nike must maintain control over its brand "by setting the record straight" about what products feature its "swoosh" logo.

"In fact, 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 reads.

Although he wasn't named in the lawsuit, Lil Nas X still had jokes about the new lawsuit against MSCHF for the "Satan Shoes."

me at nike headquarters tomorrow pic.twitter.com/iAAdjc8Ele

— nope 🏹 (@LilNasX) March 29, 2021

me after the nike lawsuit pic.twitter.com/XVLjHlSrru

— nope 🏹 (@LilNasX) March 29, 2021

After Lil Nas X announced the Satan Shoe release, he trolled the internet with an "apology video" like any YouTuber releases when they're faced with controversy. The video is usually attached to a simple title like "I'm sorry..." or "I made a mistake." Lil Nas X's video was titled, "Lil Nas X Apologizes for Satan Shoe." Simple, right? Welp, the artist had other plans.

"OK guys, I see everybody's been talking about this shoe," he said as he was holding up one of the Nike Air Max 97s. "And I just want to come forward and say..." The apology video quickly transitions to Lil Nas X's lapdance for Satan scene from his music video for "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)."

He also tweeted about the shoes on Sunday, writing, "Y'all gotta admit... the shoes hard! u cannot sit here and lie."

He returned to Twitter to tweet a picture of a fake shoe he said he was dropping to "even the score." It was a parody version of his custom sneaker collab with "Chick-Fil-A" on the sneaker and a nod to the Bible verse "John 3:16" and the words "My Pleasure."

Chick-Fil-A famously closes its restaurants on Sundays to give their employees the day to "Rest and worship if they choose," according to the website. Chick-Fil-A has also been criticized for CEO Dan Cathy's public comments about the LGBTQ+ community. 

After all the controversy, Lil Nas X's "Satan Shoes" still sold out in under one whole minute.

The release of the shoe comes hand in hand with Lil Nas X's latest single, "Montero (Call Me By Your Name), and its music video, where the rapper hops on a stripper pole and dances his way down to hell. He also gives Lucifer a lap dance once he reaches hell and takes the devil's horns for himself. 

After releasing the music video, Lil Nas X posted a letter to his 14-year-old self on Instagram. "I wrote a song with our name in it. It’s about a guy I met last summer. 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," he wrote.

He continued, “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 f**k out of other people’s lives and stop dictating who they should be. Sending you love from the future. -LNX” 

After Lil Nas X released the video and sold out his 666 pairs of sneakers, he announced that he had "9 months to plan this rollout," adding, "y'all are not gonna win bro."

The devil works hard but Lil Nas X workers harder.

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