Nike Launches Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over Lil Nas X's "Satan Shoes"
The shoes containing a drop of human blood were launched in collaboration with the brand Mschf.
On Monday, rapper Lil Nas X launched 666 pairs of his new "Satan Shoes" with the Brooklyn-based brand Mschf which sold out within minutes of their release. The shoes, which each contained a drop of human blood, closely resemble Nike's popular Air Max 97 shoes including the brand's iconic swoop insignia. Now, Nike is suing the designers of the satanic sneakers for copyright infringement.
The "Satan Shoes" were released following the rapper's music video for his song "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)," which featured him lap dancing on the Devil. After many were questioning the brand's involvement with the drop, Nike told the New York Times, "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."
In the lawsuit against Mschf, filed in the Eastern District of New York on Monday, lawyers for Nike explain, "Nike files this lawsuit to maintain control of its brand, to protect its intellectual property, and to clear the confusion and dilution in the marketplace by setting the record straight—Nike has not and does not approve or authorize Mschf’s customized Satan Shoes."
The lawsuit also states that the footwear's false connection to Nike has led to "significant harm to [Nike's] goodwill, including among consumers who believe that Nike is endorsing satanism."
The "Old Town Road" rapper, however, is maintaining his comical attitude about the situation on Twitter, posting several memes and videos about the situation with Nike, as well as the controversy surrounding the shoes and his explicit music video.
