Lil Nas X and MSCHF have teamed up to launch a controversial pair of “Satan Shoes,” that include one drop of human blood. Made using Nike Air Max 97s, the shoes were not created with the affiliation of Nike. A limited-edition drop of 666 shoes has been released, priced at $1,018 a pair, and sold out in less than a minute.
The “Satan Shoes” was released to accompany Lil Nas X’s music video for “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” which featured the rapper dancing on top of Satan. The video symbolized Lil Nas X embracing his sexuality, commenting on how society has often alluded that those who are LGBTQ+ will be “sent to hell.”
Due to the controversial design of the shoes, which includes satanic imagery and human blood, Nike released a statement saying “We do not have a relationship with Lil Nas or MSCHF. Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them.”
The price of the shoes is a reference to Luke 10:18, which says, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” The blood in the shoes had been provided by members of the art collective, individual drops being collected over the course of a week. Lil Nas X had shared an “apology video,” in which he began an apology before he began playing the most controversial aspect of his music video. His apology has currently reached over 3 million views.
“I spent my entire teenage years hating myself because of the s**t y’all preached would happen to me because i was gay,” Lil Nas X had said earlier about the controversial music video. “So i hope you are mad, stay mad, feel the same anger you teach us to have towards ourselves.”
Several political and religious figures, such as South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and evangelical pastor Mark Burns have come out to condemn the shoes and music video. The sneakers have been described as “heresy” and “evil.”
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
“These #SatanShoes by #Nike & #LilNasX with 666 and a drop of human blood in the sole is the reason why we Christians must be prayed up and ready to battle in the spirit with the Voice of the Holy Spirit,” Burns said on Twitter. “This is evil & heresy and I pray that Christians rise up against this.”
Our kids are being told that this kind of product is, not only okay, it’s “exclusive.” But do you know what’s more exclusive? Their God-given eternal soul.
We are in a fight for the soul of our nation. We need to fight hard. And we need to fight smart. We have to win. https://t.co/m1k1YWFpuo
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) March 28, 2021
Our kids are being told that htis kind of product is, not only okay, it’s ‘exclusive,'” Noem said on Twitter. “But do you know what’s more exclusive? Their God-given eternal soul. We are in a fight for the soul of our nation. We need to fight hard. And we need to fight smart. We have to win.”
Lil Nas X rose to fame with his single “Old Town Road,” which had sampled Nine Inch Nails’ “34 Ghosts IV.” Trent Reznor had said that the sample was not originally cleared, however Reznor had told his manager he was fine with it, describing the sample as “flattering.” Lil Nas X shared a video for his single “Holiday” prior to Christmas, which saw an edgier version of Santa’s Workshop.