Nike Is Suing the Maker of Lil Nas X's Satan Shoes | 22 Words

Last week, Lil Nas X announced he would release "Satan Shoes" that contain a drop of human blood, prompting a huge reaction online.

But now, it might not happen after all...

As Nike is suing the makers of the "Satan shoes."

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It comes as Nike received a lot of criticism for their perceived "involvement."

As the custom sneakers are said to be modified Nike Air Max 97s.

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Safe to say, the reaction online has been explosive. Even Lil Nas himself has spoken out...

Now, Lil Nas X was born as Montero Lamar Hill in 1990.

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Hailing from Georgia, the rapper is best known for the country rap song "Old Town Road" in which he collaborated with Billy Ray Cyrus.

He didn't start out doing music, however...

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After dropping out of his first year at the University of West Georgia, Lil Nas began working on the internet in the hopes of becoming a successful internet personality.222

He reportedly ran Nicki Minaj fan accounts online...

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 By trafficking in memes, viral threads, engagement bait, and Nicki Minaj stanning, Lil Nas X was able to create a 6-digit follower base on Twitter, and it was that platform that would eventually serve as a springboard for “Old Town Road."

In 2019, the rapper came out as gay.

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 He announced the news on his Twitter account at the end of Pride month, saying, "Some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care, some of y’all not [going to f*** with me] no more. But before this month ends I want y’all to listen closely to c7osure," followed by a string of rainbow emojis.

He then shared a video of his single "C7osure"...

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 "C7osure" finds Lil Nas X singing about a desire to live a more authentic life. "Ain't no more acting, man that forecast say I should just let me grow... No more red light for me baby, only green, I gotta go... Pack my past up in the back, oh, let my future take ahold... This is what I gotta do, can't be regretting when I'm old."

The song was his version of coming out...

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 “Deadass thought I made it obvious," he then said on Twitter with a picture of his album cover with a rainbow on it.

Lil Nas X has now made history...

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 By being the first-ever openly gay man to receive a CMA Award.

Billy Ray Cyrus won the Musical Event of the Year with Lil Nas X.

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 They remixed "Old Town Road" together, and this is a serious marking point for the LGBTQ+  community as Lil Nas X is the first-ever openly gay man to receive a CMA Award.

Lil Nas X took to Twitter to share his excitement over the win...

However, the musician's original version of "Old Town Road" was controversially removed from Billboard's Hot Country chart after being deemed to not have "enough elements" of country music.

It initially wasn't deemed "country" enough...

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"'Old Country Road' does not embrace enough elements of today's country music to chart in its current version," claimed Billboard.

But "Achy Breaky Heart" hitmaker Billy Ray Cyrus came to the rescue...

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He helped the rapper to remix the original song enough to allow it to be deemed "country enough," which eventually lead it to make it into the charts.

The song then went on to become the longest-running number-one track on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

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 It was enough to displace previous hitmakers like Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, and Boys II Men.

It wasn't always smooth sailing...

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In an interview with the New York Times back in May, the rapper admitted he was unemployed at the time he made Old Town Road.

"I was not working. I was pushing my music through the internet full-time."

He also revealed it was recorded in the closets at both his home and his grandmother's home, using both spaces as makeshift studios...

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 Lil Nas X is a perfect example of how hard work and dedication can take you to many places.

And even though he's really famous, he still remains humble.

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 And taking time out of his busy schedule to crash a wedding (with permission from the bride, of course) is just another reason why he really stands out from other artists.

But like many other celebs...

Lil Nas X has found himself at the centre of a lot of controversy...

Most recently, for his new music video for his track "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)"...

The song racked up twenty-one million views in just 2 days, but not all the feedback was good.

People have said that he's "destroying society."

Because in the video, Lil Nas X dances, twerks, and even licks the face of a "Satan" figure...

Nas hit back at the comments claiming that he doesn't write songs for children.

Lil Nas X wrote:

"There was no system involved. i made the decision to create the music video. i am an adult. i am not gonna spend my entire career trying to cater to your children. that is your job."

And now, he's in hot water again...

After he announced he would release "Satan Shoes" that contain a drop of human blood.

Lil Nas X joined forces with Brooklyn-based company MSCHF, to create the Satan sneakers.

The modified Nike Air Max 97s will be adorned with a pentagram pendant, a reference to Luke 10:18, a Bible verse about Satan's fall from heaven, and include a drop of human blood in the sole, drawn from members of the MSCHF team.

But before fans get excited about getting their hands on one of the 666 pairs available, there's an issue...

Nike have filed a lawsuit asking a court to stop MSCHF from actually distributing the shoes.

It comes after Nike released a statement stating: "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."

As part of the lawsuit, Nike is also asking the company to pay for the "damage" done to its brand for making significant changes to the original Air Max 97 design without its "approval or authorization."

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As per BuzzFeed News, Nike's attorney wrote in the complaint: "Nike has not and does not approve or authorize MSCHF's customized Satan Shoes. Decisions about what products to put the SWOOSH on belong to Nike, not to third parties like MSCHF."

Nike also noted that there had already been "significant confusion," including calls to boycott the brand "based on the mistaken belief that Nike has authorized or approved this product."

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Which they backed up with screenshots of online comments.

Lil Nas X has responded to the lawsuit with this tweet.

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