Lil Nas X and the Nike Air Max 97 MSCHF (Photo: MSCHF)
Sportswear giant Nike continued its conviction of the Lil Nas X Satan sneakers with a lawsuit. He claims trademark infringement.
The lawsuit was filed yesterday in the Eastern District of New York against Brooklyn-based fashion company MSCHF Product Studio Inc, reports the Portland Business Journal.
Among other products, MSCHF specializes in customizing sneakers and then reselling them, often at a greatly increased price. He once produced a pair of “Jesus shoes” that would have had a drop of “holy water” in their sole, taken from the Jordan River and blessed by a priest.
On Friday, Lil Nas X released their highly anticipated new single, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”. The video features him as an angelic figure, cast out of heaven, sliding on a pole in Hell, then dancing on his knees for Satan.
Related: Lil Nas X’s Dad Gives His Reaction To ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’ Video
The video sparked a wave of criticism from some evangelical Christians and right-wing lawmakers and commentators.
Over the weekend, Lil Nas X revealed that he collaborated with MSCHF on a limited-edition personalized Nike Air Max 97.
(Photo: MSCHF)
The shoes feature satanically inspired details, such as a pentagram brooch, and a reference to a biblical quote on Satan cast out of heaven: Luke 10:18 (“He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven .
The shoes also reportedly contained a drop of human blood in their sole, courtesy of MSCHF co-founder Daniel Greenberg and some other staff, according to Complex.
The shoes were limited to just 666 pairs (this being mentioned as the number of the beast in the Bible). They were on sale for $ 1,018 (another reference to Luke 10:18). Yesterday, Lil Nas X revealed that the shoes sold out in less than a minute.
On social networks, some have lambasted Nike for the shoes and called for a boycott of the company. This led Nike to issue a statement yesterday saying they don’t allow them and have nothing to do with their production.
BREAKING: Nike is suing MSCHF over “Satan shoes” @LilNasX for copyright infringement and dilution. pic.twitter.com/lEL6DIVyOD
– SAINT (@saint) March 29, 2021
“Nike filed a trademark infringement and dilution complaint against MSCHF today regarding Satan shoes,” the brand said. “We have no further details to share on the pending legal issues. 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 with this project. “
Nike has asked a federal judge to order the destruction of all the shoes and to attribute to Nike all the profits made by MSCHF on the sneakers. He also seeks punitive damages.
Related: Nike Wants You To Know They DIDN’T Put Human Blood In Lil Nas X’s ‘Satan Shoes’
Lil Nas X previously told Complex his video was inspired by how he had been demonized in the past because of his sexuality. The rapper came out gay in 2019 while his hugely popular “ Old Town Road ” was number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
“People already demonize who I am and put me in a picture of, ‘OK, he’s evil, he does this, he does that. So it’s like, you know what? You know what? I’ll take this, I’ll be that, and I’ll make the most of it.
In a weekend tweet, Lik Nas X responded to some of the criticism he was receiving from some clerics.
I spent all of my teenage years hating myself for the shit you preached that would happen to me because I was gay. so I hope you are mad, stay mad, feel the same anger that you teach us to have towards ourselves.
– no ? (@LilNasX) March 27, 2021
Last night he posted a series of tweets suggesting he was not particularly baffled by the news of Nike’s lawsuit against MSCHF.
me after the nike trial pic.twitter.com/XVLjHlSrru
– no ? (@LilNasX) March 29, 2021
me at nike headquarters tomorrow pic.twitter.com/iAAdjc8Ele
– no ? (@LilNasX) March 29, 2021
me and satan on the way to nike siege pic.twitter.com/3OaQV6pu83
– no ? (@LilNasX) March 30, 2021
