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This is what the controversial “Satan” looks like: “Produced without the consent and authorization of Nike”
Rare and expensive trainers are a status symbol for rappers.
And with your own sneaker creation, according to “Old Town Road” rapper Lil Nas X, it should really work.
Only Nike, whose shoes were used for the controversial experiment of the 21-year-old musician, has absolutely nothing to do with the project and has sued the manufacturer of the "Satan" shoes, which are heatedly disputed because of a special property.
The art collective MSCHF Product Studio violated the trademark rights with the black and red shoes with the devil motif, according to the lawsuit.
"We have no relationship with Lil Nas or MSCHF," the company told CNN. "Nike did not design or market these shoes and does not endorse them."
The shoes are specially made Nike Air Max 97 sneakers that are said to contain red ink and allegedly "a drop of human blood" in the sole.
CNN quotes a spokesman for the art collective, according to which the blood should come from MSCHF members: "We like to make sacrifices for our art." The shoes are also provided with a pentagram and an inverted cross.
On the back of one shoe, next to MSCHF, there is also Lil Nas X.
According to Nike, redesign damages company value
The shoes - a limited edition of 666 pairs - were sold out in less than a minute, according to media reports.
$ 1,018 was due per pair.
The price is supposed to be a reference to the Bible passage Luke 10:18.
In the Gospel it says: "I saw Satanas fall from heaven like lightning."
Lil Nas X, who is not directly named as a defendant by Nike, said he would select the recipient of the 666th pair of social media users to spread one of his tweets.
In view of this and whether the shoes are sold at a low price, the redesign should also be a marketing ploy from the rapper who released a video for his new song "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" on Friday.
In the video he is dancing with a character wearing devil horns.
In the lawsuit before a federal court in New York, however, Nike argued that the shoes had been produced "without the consent and authorization of Nike".
The company is "in no way associated with this project."
The unofficial redesign affects the company's value, writes Nike in the lawsuit.
The sporting goods manufacturer speaks of confusion among customers and, in view of the design, which is at least delicate for religious people, even of calls for boycotts, which were based on the erroneous assumption that Nike had something to do with this product.
Among other things, the Republican US Governor Kristi Noem from the US state South Dakota had been critical of the design:
Nike asked the court to immediately stop MSCHF from fulfilling orders for the shoes.
The company is also demanding damages.
apr / Reuters
