Satan Shoes

Satan Shoes were a series of custom Nike Air Max 97 shoes, created in 2021 as a collaboration between American musician Lil Nas X and MSCHF, a Brooklyn, New York art collective. Their design and marketing gained controversy through prominent satanic imagery. Nike, Inc. sued MSCHF for trademark infringement, false designation of origin, trademark dilution, and unfair competition. A settlement was reached in July 2021 which required MSCHF to offer refunds to any buyer who wished to return their shoes.

Design and promotion

Each pair of shoes is black, and features a bronze pentagram on the laces and an inverted cross,[1] while on the sides of the shoes is a reference to the Biblical passage .[2] MSCHF claims that the shoes are made with "60cc of ink and 1 drop of human blood".[3] According to MSCHF co-founder Daniel Greenberg, the blood came from "about six" MSCHF employees.[4] A detail from Jan van Eyck's Last Judgement appears to be present on the packaging.[5][6]

The shoes were released alongside the music video for Lil Nas X's song "

Artistic intent

A spokesperson for MSCHF told the New York Times the shoes were works of artistic expression "intended to comment on the absurdity of the collaboration culture practiced by some brands".[12]

Court case

Nike contended before federal judge Eric R. Komitee that the Satan Shoes were manufactured without authorization from Nike. Nike's lawyers argued that they have "submitted evidence that even sophisticated sneakerheads were confused" by the shoes. Nike lawyers cited the Rogers test.[13]

Nike released a statement in response to the controversy generated, saying "Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them".[14] Additionally, the company initiated a lawsuit against MSCHF, alleging that they had made consumers believe that "Nike is endorsing satanism" and that the shoes and their promotion represented trademark infringement, false designation of origin, trademark dilution, and unfair competition.[15][16][17]

Reception

The shoes were met with disapproval from some sports, entertainment, political and religious figures, including from basketball player Nick Young, Free Chapel pastor Jentezen Franklin, American football quarterback Trevor Lawrence, fellow rapper Joyner Lucas, evangelical pastor Mark Burns, conservative pundit Candace Owens and South Dakota governor Kristi Noem.[22][23] The Church of Satan gave its full approval to the "Montero" music video and the shoes.[24] Lil Nas X told critics via Twitter his agenda was to "make people stay the fuck out of other people’s lives and stop dictating who they should be."[25] The rapper later called out the double standard after skateboarder Tony Hawk's announcement about releasing blood-infused skateboards didn't receive any backlash for the idea.[26]