Nike Sues After Lil Nas X’s Release of ‘Satan Shoes’

Nike Sues After Lil Nas X’s Release of ‘Satan Shoes’

By Movieguide® Staff

Nike filed a federal lawsuit after “Old Town Road” singer Lil Nas X released “Satan Shoes” in collaboration with the New York-based company MSCHF.

“We do not have a relationship with Little Nas X or MSCHF,” Nike revealed in an initial statement shared by NBC News. “Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them.”

Nike sued MSCHF for copyright infringement. Nike claims they did not condone the modified Nike Air Max 97s that Lil Nas X released in tandem with his controversial music video for his new track “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”

The shoes explicitly allude to Satan with a pentagram pendant and a reference to “Luke 10:18”, which says: “And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.'”

Moreover, the shoes contain a drop of human blood in each pair’s sole, and only 666 pairs are available to buy.

Montero Lamar Hill, Lil Nas X’s real name, is not named a defendant in Nike’s lawsuit.

“Nike filed a trademark infringement and dilution complaint against MSCHF today related to the Satan Shoes,” Nike told Fox Business. “We don’t have further details to share on pending legal matters. However, we can tell you we do not have a relationship with Lil Nas X or MSCHF. The Satan Shoes were produced without Nike’s approval or authorization, and Nike is in no way connected with this project.”

The lawsuit reads: “Decisions about what products to put the ‘swoosh’ [logo] on belong to Nike, not to third parties like MSCHF. Nike requests that the court immediately and permanently stop MSCHF from fulfilling all orders for its unauthorized Satan Shoes.”

Due to the controversial nature of the shoes, Nike also sought to dispel any association with the MSCHF products.

“The unauthorized Satan Shoes are likely to cause confusion” and “create an erroneous association between MSCHF’s products and Nike,” the lawsuit continues. “In fact, 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 authorized or approved this product.”

Nike is suing MSCHF for their Satan Shoes that dropped today. Below is their case filing with some of the complaints: pic.twitter.com/5mwmptK4pW

— Mohak (@themacint0sh) March 29, 2021

The controversy started with Lil Nas X’s sexual and offensive music video, which depicts the 21-year-old rapper descending a stripper pole into Hell, explicitly dancing on Satan, killing the Devil, and dawning the horns for himself.

The music video and sneakers received harsh criticism from fans from all political affiliations but primarily conservative Christians.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem condemned the release of the video:

“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,” Noem wrote on Twitter. “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.”

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

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNAcF8sj2RH/

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What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.