Lil Nas X has dropped a new controversial sneaker called ‘Satan Shoes.’
What We Know:
- According to CNN, the unofficial custom Nike Air Max 97s was created by the “Old Town Road” artist and New York street-wear company MSCHF. The pair of ‘Satan Shoes’ featured a bronze pentagram pendant, an inverted cross, and Luke 10:18 written on the side, which is a Bible verse depicting Satan’s fall from heaven. On top of that, the shoe’s sole contains red ink mixed with a single drop of human blood drawn from the MSCHF team members.
- The shoes were made to coincide with Lil Nas X’s latest single, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” which was released on Friday, March 26th. On Monday, MSCHF released 666 pairs of the satanic sneakers to be sold at $1,018 per pair. The collaboration sold out in under 1 minute.
- The shoes sparked outrage among high-profile critics like the evangelical pastor, Mark Burns, who called the design “evil” and “heresy.” Others like Washington state representative Amber Krabach blamed Nike for their involvement, tweeting, “When someone asks you if they can make Satan Shoes under your brand… YOU SAY NO.”
These #SatanShoes by #Nike & #LilNasX with 666 and a drop of human blood in the sole is a reason 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. pic.twitter.com/u7CK3NCIy7
— Pastor Mark Burns (@pastormarkburns) March 27, 2021
- Nike released a statement to NBC News addressing the controversy, writing, “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.” The rapper also reacted to the criticism in a short YouTube video on Sunday titled “Lil Nas X Apologizes for Satan Shoe.” which shows Lil Nas X holding the sneaker before the video cuts to the clip from “Montero” of him giving the devil a lap dance.
- The rapper appears not to be holding back. Lil Nas X snapped back at critics a day after releasing the “Montero” music video, tweeting, “I spent my entire teenage years hating myself because of the s**t y’all preached would happen to me because i was gay,” he wrote. “So i hope u are mad, stay mad, feel the same anger you teach us to have towards ourselves.”
MSCHF is known to produce a number of controversial art pieces, including limited edition ‘Jesus Shoes’ also made from Nike Air Max 97 sneakers, featuring a steel crucifix and “holy water” sourced from the Jordan River.
