Nike Files Lawsuit Against Rapper Lil Nas X For Selling Modified Satanic Sneakers

A report by The Verge reports that clothing company Nike filed a lawsuit against rapper Lil Nas X and the internet collective MSCHF for the unauthorized sale of a satanic-themed embellished Nike shoe.

The “Satan sneakers” in question correspond to black and red Air Max '97 models modified with a golden pentagram, an inscription from a biblical verse that refers to Satan and a plastic bubble containing human blood. The line was released on March 29 and consists of 666 numbered pairs selling for $1,080 each.

According to what is collected in The Verge, Nike's lawsuit explains that these shoes have damaged its image as a company since some people have mistakenly thought that they it is a product of theirs and, consequently, would support Satanism, when in reality it is about models modified by third parties.

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According to University of New Hampshire law professor Alexandra Roberts the case “has broad potential implications because we've seen the proliferation of this type of product customization brand". The academic estimates that Nike would only seek to prevent the distribution of the shoes to avoid further legal repercussions.

The sneaker's release came on the heels of a music video for the song MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) by Lil Nas X, which also contains plenty of satanic iconography and which aroused the ire of the most conservative sectors of the industry. In response to the controversy over the sneakers and the video, the rapper released a fake apology video in which he caps it off by showing a provocative scene from his latest music production.

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