The rapper collaborated on the shoes with the New York-based streetwear company MSCHF, immediately selling out upon release Monday.
What We Know:
- According to the lawsuit, Nike has filed a trademark infringement and dilution complaint against MSCHF. The lawsuit states the company altered Nike’s shoes without their permission. Nike was quick to distance themselves from the rapper, stating they were “in no way connected with this project.”
- The modified shoes feature a pentagram design, an inverted cross, and a single drop of human blood donated by members of the MSCHF staff. The company released 666 pairs of sneakers for $1,018 each–a reference to Luke 10:18, a Bible verse on Satan’s fall from heaven.
DROP 43 – SATAN SHOEShttps://t.co/MNOFecjLBY
— MSCHF (@mschf) March 29, 2021
- The lawsuit goes on to state the shoe release caused confusion in the marketplace, “creating an erroneous association between MSCHF’s products and Nike.” The shoes coincide with Lil Nas’s newest single, Montero (Call Me By Your Name). In the music video, Nas can be seen dancing proactively with the devil.
- Many people criticized Nas’s actions calling them immoral or insensitive. Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence tweeted the “line has to be drawn somewhere when talking about the shoes.” Kristi Noem, the Governor of South Dakota, also criticized Nas, saying the shoes have triggered “a fight for the soul of our nation.”
The Georgia native was born Montero Lamar Hill and came out as gay in 2019. Lil Nas is best known for his chart-topping single Old Town Road, which spent 19 weeks atop the Billboard 100.
