The unofficial Nike version is black, adorned with a pentagram and an inverted cross, and even contains a drop of human blood.
Popular American rapper Lil Nas X, known for his hit Old Town Road, presented his own unofficial version of Nike sneakers. Nowadays, finding a topic for discussion is quite difficult, but the singer succeeded - he chose the controversial topic of Satanism for his Nikes.
The Satan Shoes were created by the rapper in collaboration with streetwear brand MSCHF, known for their art projects. A total of 666 pairs of such sneakers will be released, they went on sale today, March 29th. The cost of the model is $1018.
The basis for the project was the Nike Air Max 97 model. However, he Nike brand, responding to the discussions of the controversial model that filled the Network, he has already officially stated that he has nothing to do with "satanic" sneakers. And in a statement to CNN, the company even stressed that it does not support the project.
The Lil Nas X sneakers are made in black with bright red accents, they are decorated with a bronze inverted pentagram. Also among the decorative elements are the number 666, an inverted cross and the inscription "Luke 10:18", referring to the lines of the Gospel of Luke that mention Satan.
And the icing on the cake is the assurance that there is a drop of real human blood in the sneakers. It is added to the red ink that fills the sole. Representatives of the MSCHF assured that the blood was provided on a voluntary basis by members of the art collective.
The release of Satan Shoes is timed to coincide with the release of the singer's new single Montero (Call Me By Your Name). In the video that accompanies the song, Lil Nas X is shown dancing with the devil.
It is not surprising that the appearance of such shoes caused a storm of indignation from ordinary people, religious figures and politicians. In response to the multiple accusations and criticism, Lil Nas X has already released an "apology" video. However, for verification, this is more likely just an additional advertisement for the singer's new single. At the time of writing, the video has already gained almost 2.5 million views.
This isn't the first time the MSCHF brand has unveiled such a controversial sneaker. So, in 2019, the team released a limited edition of Jesus Shoes - “Jesus Shoes”, also created on the basis of Nike Air Max 97 sneakers, which were decorated with a steel crucifix and contained, according to the creators, holy water from the Jordan River.
Nike, which simply distanced itself from the “satanic” model in the first days after the appearance of information about the new sneakers, moved to more decisive action under the influence of public discontent. It has been revealed that the brand has officially blocked the sale of "Satan Shoes" by Lil Nas X, accusing the MSCHF team of trademark infringement.
On Wednesday, March 31, the US District Court in New York approved Nike's request for a temporary restraining order against the MSCHF. Thus, sneakers, which have already managed to flash on all the news resources of the world, are prohibited from production and sale until a subsequent trial.