Hot off the success of his latest single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”, rapper Lil Nas X has further ruffled some religious feathers by releasing a limited edition pair of shoes containing a drop of blood. Shoe giant Nike issued a statement distancing itself from Nax X’s so-called “Satan shoes.”
The shoes are a modified pair of Nike Air Max 97s, redesigned by the streetwear company MSCHF. MSCHF is selling exactly 666 pairs as a promotion of “Montero,” which feature a pentagram and a Bible verse, Luke 10:18, about Satan’s fall from heaven. The shoes also contain a drop of blood drawn from employees of MSCHF to add to their mystique.
Related: WATCH: Lil Nas X gives a lap dance to Satan in bonkers new video
“We do not have a relationship with Little Nas X or MSCHF,” Nike said in a statement. “Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them.”
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Besides the adornment of the shoes themselves, the video for “Montero” also features its own set of religious references, as it depicts Lil Nas X sliding down a pole into Hell and giving Satan a lap dance. Apparently, in response to the controversy around the shoes, Lil Nax X also released an “apology” video on Sunday (March 28), in which he teased a mea-culpa for the shoes, only to have the video cut to footage of him giving a lap dance to Satan instead.
Nas X has been clapping back at his many critics, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem among them, on Twitter:
ur a whole governor and u on here tweeting about some damn shoes. do ur job! https://t.co/qaor6W0B9C
— nope ? (@LilNasX) March 28, 2021
you know you did something right when she talks about it https://t.co/9ujlFhBMdZ
— nope ? (@LilNasX) March 28, 2021
In other words, he ain’t sorry folks.
Lil Nas X also released a statement on Friday in the form of a letter to his younger self, explaining some of the references in the video, and their connection to his own struggle with his sexuality.
“I know we promised to never come out publicly, I know we promised to never be ‘that’ type of gay person, I know we promised to die with the secret, but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist,” he wrote. “You see this is very scary for me, people will be angry, they say I’m pushing an agenda. But the truth is I am. The agenda to make people stay the f*ck out of other people’s lives and stop dictating who they should be. Sending you love from the future.”
At the time of this writing, the video for “Montero” has already racked up 32 million views. Meanwhile, MSCHF continues to sell its special edition Satan Shoes, which retail for $1,018. No doubt many a Lil Nas X fan will consider selling his soul for a pair.
michel_banen
Lil Nas X….. cute and damn smart ! He knows how to generate some publicity !
Fahd
That Governor Kristi Noem is a piece of work; scary, divisive, and needs to be defeated in the next election.
Desiderata
Is there a reason causing offence to Christians is ok, but if he’d been offensive to Muslims he’d be condemned?
Just trying to understand what the principle is, or is it just different rules and no consistent principle?
jayhalleaux
The nuance is that any religion’s beliefs should be open to criticism/mocking but you should not attack people for believing in a set of beliefs. I will support your freedom to believe in Islam/Christianity but that does not mean your beliefs are free from criticism.
Den
Muslims in this country have neither the numbers nor the clout to attempt to foist faith based legislation on others in a constitutionally secular country. Nor are they likely to if one looks at the Muslims who have been elected to the legislative branches or judiciary of federal or state government. They seem perfectly comfortable with the separation of church and state, and keeping faith based bias to themselves.
The same cannot be said of evangelicals or fundamentalists in government…so yes be as offensive to them as possible, as they intend to pile much worse than offense on us.
cheks
Muslims believe in Hell and Satan (Iblis) too. We just don’t have a lot of prominent Muslim celebrities or politicians speaking out about a rapper and his shoes.
SactoMan
Leave it to a Christian to think it’s all about them. Nothing in this video or these shoes is Christian only. All the abrahamic religions believe in hell and heaven. They all have God and Satan. I believe they all have the Garden of Eden. Regardless, this is a personal song about a personal experience and his personal experience is Christianity. So get over it.
Mister P
The Christians weren’t going to like him anyway so why not troll them.
Scorpjr
Interesting question. Speaking for myself, I was raised up southern Baptist, although I’ve been an Atheist since I was 14. I feel that gives me enough of a reference point to understand, and cause offense to, Christians who aren’t holding what I consider to be Christian values, and who display that lack of observance in my presence. I wouldn’t react the same way to a member of another religion, because I wouldn’t have the same awareness about the values of their faiths.
gothvixen
When politicians talk about fighting for the “God-given eternal soul” of young people it confirms that there is no separation of state and church in America, and the self-professed and ever-so-vocal christians assume that they are unfailingly superior to everyone else, despite the obvious and continual demonstration of their hatred, intolerance and gross stupidity. The shoes aren’t evil or wrong, it’s just marketing in the biggest con of them all, the America they say is so great, when it’s a 3rd world failure. The Governor should govern without any reference to spiritual topics, because that’s not their job.
wiggie
Funny how Nike and none of these other right wingers had a problem when the same company used the exact same shoe ( different color) to make “Jesus” shoes with supposed holy water in them. Those shoes sold out pretty quickly.
rural queer socialist
But they didn’t put dog shit, or other toxic substances in the shoes, did they. Putting body fluids in a garment is toxic!
rural queer socialist
Speaking of SOCIAL JUSTICE – that queer people are supposed to be ‘into’ – YOU CANNOT BE INTERESTED OR INVOLVED – AT ALL – in SOCIAL JUSTICE – if you endorse shoes costing that much!
Who cares about ‘Satanic’ marketing? BIG deal? NOT REALLY. The ACTUAL LIVING SATAN is involved in lots of businesses, enterprises, media, and cultures – including of course queer businesses, enterprises, media and cultures. Same old same old!
BUT kowtowing to idiots who make and market shoes costing a fortune IS a GREAT UN-social justice, UN-inclusiveness, UN-equity.
Hypocrisy much, queerty?
Calin
Nothing but noise!!! Nothing to prove here!!! Didn’t care for the video!!