Nike launches lawsuit over Lil Nas X’s ‘Satan Shoes’

Nike has launched a lawsuit over Lil Nas X’s controversial ‘Satan Shoes’, a modified pair of Nike trainers that contain a drop of human blood.

The lawsuit said streetwear label MSCHF infringed on and diluted its trademark with the shoes which were created in collaboration with the singer, and neither approved nor authorised by Nike.

It read: “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 belief that Nike has authorised or approved the product.”

The sports brand asked MSCHF to immediately cease fulfilling orders for the shoes and requested a jury trial to seek damages.

Lil Nas X is not named as a defendant in the paperwork, although made it clear he’d caught wind of the lawsuit sharing a number of memes relating to it.

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The Satan Shoes, black and red Nike Air Max 97s, feature an inverted cross and an air bubble filled with red ink, and a drop of human blood.

Across the side, is also a reference to the Bible passage Luke 10:18: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven”.

The £1080 shoes went on sale on Monday, with MSCHF confirming they’d sold out within a minute.

The trainers have since been given the thumbs-up by the Church of Satan. Its magister said the popularity was due to the fact the shoe embraced the essence of Satanism, TMZ reports.

The trainers were released in tandem with Lil Nas X’s new music video Montero (Call Me By Your Name), in which he is seen giving a lapdance to a character resembling the devil. It has been viewed over 42 million times on YouTube.

With the product and music video’s popularity also came controversy, with many criticising both for being sacrilegious.

Lil Nas X has responded to criticism hard and fast in a succession of tweets, one which read: “I spent my entire teenage year hating myself because of the shit y’all preached would happen to me because I was gay.

“So I hope you are mad, stay mad, feel the same anger you teach us to have towards ourselves.”

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