Lil Nas X Satan shoe buyers can get refund after Nike lawsuit settled
By David Goldman, CNN Business
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Updated:
Courtesy MSCHF
Rapper and singer Lil Nas X launched a controversial pair of "Satan Shoes" featuring a bronze pentagram, an inverted cross and a drop of real human blood. The black and red sneakers, part of a collaboration with New York-based art collective MSCHF, were made using Nike Air Max 97s, though the sportswear brand has distanced itself from the design.
Richard Shotwell
FILE - In this June 23, 2019 file photo, Lil Nas X arrives at the BET Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Lil Nas X created a musical phenomenon with his song “Old Town Road” with Billy Ray Cyrus. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
Matt Sayles
Lil Nas X performs "Panini" at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Charles Sykes
Lil Nas X arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Evan Agostini
Lil Nas X poses in the press room at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Jason Mendez
Lil Nas X performs at the Z100 Summer Bash at The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Invision/AP)
Evan Agostini
Musicians Lil Nas X, left, and Bill Ray Cyrus speak in the press room after winning the musical event of the year award at the 53rd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Evan Agostini
FILE - This Nov. 13, 2019 file photo shows rapper Lil Nas X after winning the musical event of the year award at the 53rd annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn. Genre-mashing, bold and chart-topping new artists have caught the attention of the Recording Academy, as Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X lead in nominations at the 2020 Grammy Awards. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
Jordan Strauss
Lil Nas X poses in the press room with the award for favorite rap/hip-hop song for "Old Town Road" at the American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Willy Sanjuan
Lil Nas X performs live on stage at the 2020 Spotify Best New Artist Party at The Lot Studios on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)
Matt Sayles
Lil Nas X performs "Old Town Road" at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Matt Sayles
Billy Ray Cyrus, left, and Lil Nas X perform at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Jordan Strauss
Lil Nas X attends the Tom Ford show at Milk Studios during NYFW Fall/Winter 2020 on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Chris Pizzello
FILE - This June 23, 2019 file photo shows Lil Nas X performing his X’s genre bending "Old Town Road" at the BET Awards in Los Angeles. The rapper won many awards, including Grammys for best music video and best pop duo/group performance, an American Music Award for favorite rap/hip-hop and a CMA award for musical event of the year. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
Chris Pizzello
FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2020 file photo, Lil Nas X poses in the press room with the awards for best music video and best pop duo/group performance for "Old Town Road," at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
Matt Sayles
FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2020, file photo, Lil Nas X performs at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Lil Nas X received 13, 2020 Billboard Music Awards Nominations, dick clark productions and NBC announced Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)
Chris Pizzello
Lil Nas X accepts the award for top hot 100 song for "Old Town Road"at the Billboard Music Awards on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
The company that sold customized Nike Air Max 97s, featuring satanic symbols and a red liquid in the sole that supposedly contains human blood, will buy back customers’ shoes for a full refund.
Nike settled a lawsuit with MSCHF, the Brooklyn-based art and design studio behind the Lil Nas X branded “Satan” shoe that made waves on social media. Nike said the alterations and sales were unauthorized.
As part of the agreement, MSCHF will issue a voluntary recall for the Satan shoes, buying back the sneakers at the $1,018 sale price. Nike said it hoped the recall would remove the shoes from circulation. Other details of the settlement were not released.
“The parties are pleased to put this dispute behind them,” a Nike spokesperson said in a statement.
Nike sued MSCHF on March 29 for trademark infringement, complaining about potential confusion for customers. MSCHF also sold a “Jesus” shoe in 2019 made from altered Nike sneakers that the company said contained holy water from the Jordan River.
“Nike had nothing to do with the Satan Shoes or the Jesus Shoes,” the company said. “Purchasers who choose not to return their shoes and later encounter a product issue, defect, or health concern should contact MSCHF, not Nike.”
The Satan shoes, featuring a bronze pentagram and an inverted cross (and ostensibly a drop of human blood), sold out almost immediately when they went on sale last month.
MSCHF issued just 666 pairs, appropriately. The blood was provided by MSCHF employees because “we love to sacrifice for our art,” the studio said.
The shoe was designed as part of a marketing campaign for Lil Nas X’s new song “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”
The rapper, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, posted a video to his official YouTube account titled “Lil Nas X Apologizes for Satan Shoe,” which has now been viewed over 6.3 million times. But after a few seconds, the “apology” cuts to a scene from his controversial new music video, showing him dancing provocatively with a demonic character.
