Little Nas X’s limited-edition “Satan Shoes” featuring the famous swoosh and containing a drop of blood doesn’t sit well with Nike.
Nike filed a lawsuit in federal district court on Monday against MSCHF, which produced the shoes. They contain a pentagram and are stamped with the phrase “Luke 10:18– a reference to Satan falling from heaven. MSCHF made 666 pairs with Nike Air Max ’97.
Although Nike had no involvement, many Little Nas X fans apparently believed that to be the case.
“Nike filed a trademark infringement and dilution lawsuit against MSCHF today regarding the Satan shoes. We have no further details to share on the outstanding legal issues,” Nike said in a statement shared with USA Today. “However, we can tell you that we have no relationship with Lil Nas X or MSCHF. The Satan shoes were produced without the approval or permission of Nike, and Nike is in no way connected to this project.
The shoes were released as Lil Nas X released a video for his song Montero which shows him falling into hell, where he dances with Satan.
A copy of the trial was posted on Twitter.
Nike is suing MSCHF over its Satan shoes which were dropped today. Below is their dossier with some of the complaints: pic.twitter.com/5mwmptK4pW
— Mohak (@themacint0sh) March 29, 2021
“MSCHF is currently taking orders for shoes it calls Satan Shoes, which are custom Nike Air Max 97 shoes that MSCHF has materially altered to highlight a satanic theme,” the lawsuit states. “This was done without Nike’s approval or permission, and Nike is in no way connected to this project.”
The shoes “are likely to cause confusion and dilution and create an erroneous association between the products of MSCHF and Nike,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit mentions “calls to boycott Nike in response to ‘the shoes’ based on the mistaken belief that Nike authorized or approved this product.”
“Nike is bringing this lawsuit to maintain control of its brand, to protect its intellectual property, and to alleviate confusion and dilution in the marketplace by setting the record straight – Nike has not and does not endorse or does not allow Satan shoes from MSCHF,” the suit says.
Related:
Governor Kristi Noem Slams Lil Nas X’s ‘Satanic Shoes’: ‘We’re Fighting For The Soul Of Our Nation’
Photo courtesy: ©MSCHF
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and current affairs for 20 years. His stories have appeared in the Baptist Press, Christianity today, The Christian Post, the Sheet-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
