Lil Nas X’s controversial “Satan Shoes” sold out in less than 60 seconds when they went up for sale Monday after being widely publicized for their demonic imagery.
Limited to 666 individually numbered pairs of Nike Air Max 97s, the satanic sneakers were modified by New York streetwear company MSCHF, and went for $1,018 each, according to CNN. The soles contain a drop of human blood mixed with black ink — blood which reportedly came from MSCHF employees pricking their fingers.
MSCHF x Lil Nas X "Satan Shoes" 🏹
👟Nike Air Max '97
🩸Contains 60cc ink and 1 drop of human blood
🗡️666 Pairs, individually numbered
💰$1,018
🗓️March 29th, 2021 pic.twitter.com/XUMA9TKGSX— SAINT (@saint) March 26, 2021
MSCHF, which also stoked ire in 2019 for their “Jesus Shoes,” confirmed to CNN via email on Monday that the shoes sold out within seconds. The company’s creative director Kevin Wiesner said Lil Nas X, who is also known as Montero Lamar Hill, will be keeping the first pair.
In addition to suing MSCHF for copyright infringement, Nike has distanced itself from the modified product, telling CNN in a statement: “We do not have a relationship with Lil Nas or MSCHF. Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them.”
The shoes were met with outrage, prompting denunciation from figures such as Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Daily Wire host Candace Owens, and various religious figures.
“We’ve turned George Floyd, a criminal drug addict, into an icon,” said Owens. “We are promoting Satan shoes to wear on our feet. We’ve got Cardi B named as woman of the year. But we’re convinced it’s white supremacy that’s keeping black America behind. How stupid can we be?”
We’ve turned George Floyd, a criminal drug addict, into an icon.
We are promoting Satan shoes to wear on our feet.
We’ve got Cardi B named as woman of the year.
But we’re convinced it’s white supremacy that’s keeping black America behind.
How stupid can we be?
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) March 28, 2021
“This is a dangerous marketing endeavor if you ask me,” said evangelist Franklin Graham. “Rapper Lil Nas X is producing 666 pairs of Nike shoes they’re calling ‘Satan Shoes.’ They even go so far as to put a drop of human blood in the soles. The shoes are part of promoting a new music video in which this rapper descends down a stripper pole and gives Satan a lap dance. The morals in this country have fallen so fast, and many times the entertainment industry is leading the way.”
“The Word of God says, ‘And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell’ (Matthew 10:28). Hell is a real place, and so is the eternal torment of those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,” Graham added.
The shoes were announced to coincide with the release of the music video for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” which also offended many people for its depiction of Hill giving Satan a lap dance on the throne of hell. The video was replete with other biblical and occult references, including an ancient Greek quote from Plato.
“I spent my entire teenage years hating myself because of the s**t y’all preached would happen to me because i was gay,” Hill tweeted in response to the video’s backlash. “So i hope u are mad, stay mad, feel the same anger you teach us to have towards ourselves.”
i spent my entire teenage years hating myself because of the shit y’all preached would happen to me because i was gay. so i hope u are mad, stay mad, feel the same anger you teach us to have towards ourselves.
— nope 🏹 (@LilNasX) March 27, 2021
Related: Rapper Lil Nas X Rolls Out Line Of Bloody ‘Satan Shoes’ To Coincide With New Song About Demonic Sex