Rapper Lil Nas X launched a controversial pair of “Satan Shoes” sneakers featuring a pentagram and a drop of real human blood, and they sold out immediately.
The black and red shoes, which also feature a Bible verse, Luke 10:18 – “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” – were created as a collaboration between the rapper and streetwear company MSCHF using Nike’s Air Max 97s. The Beaverton-headquartered company is distancing itself from the release.
In a statement to the New York Times, Nike said, “We do not have a relationship with Little Nas X or MSCHF. Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them.”
MSCHF released a limited-edition drop of 666 pairs of the rare sneakers, which sold out in less than a minute. They were priced at $1,018 a pair.
A spokesman for MSCHF confirmed to CNN the blood in the sneakers had been provided by members of the art collective. The group also confirmed to the network that Nike was not involved in “any capacity.”
The shoes caused a major stir and sparked large reaction on social media over the weekend.
South Dakota governor Kristi Noem wrote on Twitter, “This is outrageous, disgusting and perverted and on #PalmSunday no less. Somehow @lilnasx thinks that Satanic worship should be mainstream and normal. I don’t think there have been better candidates to cancel than LilNasX and these shoes.”
In response, the rapper, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, tweeted: “ur a whole governor and u on here tweeting about some damn shoes. do ur job!”
Lil Nas X later posted a satire video “apology” on his YouTube channel, which featured footage from his Montero (Call Me By Your Name) music video where he danced on the devil’s lap. While holding the sneakers, the rapper begins speaking before cutting to the music video.
The rapper later tweeted a defense of the shoes.
