Nike Sues Company That Produced “Satan Shoes” in Collaboration With Rapper Lil Nas X

For ages, athletic footwear manufacturer Nike has captivated millions with their empowering tagline: “Just do it.”

And yet, while the phrase has certainly emboldened many for the better, it has recently become a contributor to a relatively negative aspect:

The creation of these “Satan Shoes”, which are said to have been made with a real drop of human blood.

And lest you’re wondering about any possible association between the two, just take a look at the design:

Well, things have certainly taken a… wrong turn.

Nike Sues Company That Produced “Satan Shoes” in Collaboration With Rapper Lil Nas X

In collaboration with Grammy-winning rapper Lil Nas X (whom you might recognise from the 2019 song “Old Town Road”), MSCHF Product Studio has released a chilling new line of footwear called “Satan Shoes”.

Essentially customised Nike Air Max 97 footwear, the sneakers are said to possess red ink and “one drop of human blood” in the sole.

They also come with a pentagram charm and an indication of Luke 10:18 from the Bible—which refers to Satan’s fall from grace from Heaven.

The limited edition shoes were released in a batch of 666 – a number commonly associated with demonic notions.

They reportedly sold out within less than a minute at US$1,018 (S$1,373) per pair.

As for the 666th pair, it will go to one ‘”lucky” social media user who shares the rapper’s tweet.

The draw is supposed to occur on 1 April 2021.

Yet, though 665 buyers will probably be satisfied with their bloodthirsty purchase, one particular athletic manufacturer is, for lack of a better term, displeased.

They are, after all, being hounded for a pair of shoes that they are not associated with – a notion which has swiftly led to a court case.

“Without Nike’s Approval Or Authorisation”

According to TODAYonline, Nike has since filed a lawsuit against MSCHF Product Studio.

The athletic footwear manufacturer has denied any link to the project, and stated that the shoes were created “without Nike’s approval and authorisation”.

“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 authorised or approved this product,” the lawsuit said.

They have requested the court to bar MSCHF from completing orders for the shoes, on the grounds of alleged trademark infringement and dilution.

Nike has also sought a jury trial to claim damages.

Thus far, both Lil Nas X and MSCHF have yet to respond.

Jesus Shoes

Interestingly, MSCHF has previously released a pair of shoes called “Jesus Shoes”, which are also based on the Air Max 97.

The rendition comes with a cross charm and a supposed drop of holy water from the Jordan River.

Apparently, the water was also blessed by an actual priest, who was summoned into the office for the “ritual”.

Like the “devil’s incarnation”, the Jesus Shoes sold out in one minute after its release.

We’re totally seeing a trend here.

Feature Image: Satan Shoes