Lil Nas X Satan Shoes Recalled

Nike has settled its lawsuit against the Brooklyn company that collaborated with Lil Nas X to produce his Satan Shoes (which allegedly contained a drop of human blood), adding that the shoes will be recalled.

The settlement with MSCHF Product Studio resolves a trademark infringement lawsuit that Nike filed over the black-and-red, devil-themed trainers, which carry the Nike ‘swoosh’ logo and cost £741 ($1,018) a pair.

Lil Nas X helped launch the shoes, which were based on the Nike Air Max 97. Only 666 pairs were made.

As part of the settlement, the shoes will be recalled and buyers will be refunded by MSCHF "to remove them from circulation".

The black and red trainers also had the words ‘Luke 10:18’ printed on them – a reference to a Biblical verse that alludes to Satan's fall from heaven.

Nike said MSCHF agreed to buy back any Satan Shoes in addition to any Jesus Shoes, (which were launched in 2019 and also based on the Air Max 97), for their original retail prices, “in order to remove them from circulation”.

Nike immediately sued MSCHF after the shoes were brought out as a tie-in with the rapper’s latest song and video, Montero (Call Me By Your Name), leading to a judge to block the shoes from being shipped to customers.

MSCHF previously defended its shoes as "individually numbered works of art".

Lil Nas X has also criticised Nike on Twitter: “I feel like it’s fucked up they have so much power they can get shoes cancelled. Freedom of expression gone out the window.”

David Bernstein, chair of the intellectual property litigation group at Debevoise & Plimpton and MSCHF representative, said the artistic messages MSCHF hoped the shoes would convey were "dramatically amplified" by Nike's lawsuit.

"MSCHF intended to comment on the absurdity of the collaboration culture practiced by some brands, and about the perniciousness of intolerance. Having achieved its artistic purpose, MSCHF is pleased to have resolved the lawsuit,” he said.