New York (AFP)

The New York company which had created controversial "satanic" sneakers in partnership with the American rapper Lil Nas X agreed to recall them and offer a refund to their buyers, as part of an amicable settlement with the Nike equipment supplier.

The model, offered for sale by MSCHF, is initially an Air Max 97 sneaker made by Nike, to which have been added some distinctive signs reminiscent of the devil, including a pentagram (inverted five-pointed star), sometimes considered a satanic symbol.

A drop of human blood was also injected into the sole, according to the company.

Nike had attacked MSCHF, accusing it of counterfeiting and brand dilution, saying calls for a boycott of the supplier had been made.

"We agreed to settle the dispute amicably," said the MSCHF company in a message sent Friday to its customers, seen by AFP.

"As part of this settlement, Nike has asked us, and we have agreed, to initiate a recall of the + Satan Shoes + and the + Jesus Shoes +" to remove them from circulation. "

The Brooklyn-based company, which presents itself as an artistic collective, adds that it is ready to fully reimburse the purchasers of all copies of these two limited series, if they request it before April 21, while indicating that they are "entitled" not to return said shoes.

Contacted by AFP, Nike confirmed that an amicable agreement had been reached, providing for "a voluntary recall" of the shoes by MSCHF.

"Both parties are happy to be able to resolve their dispute," added the equipment manufacturer.

The online sale on March 29 of these "satanic" sneakers - for $ 1,018 a pair - had caused controversy.

They were the fruit of a partnership with the American rapper Lil Nas X made famous by his hit "Old Town Road", whose remix flew over the spring and summer of 2019.

Some, such as the Republican governor of South Dakota, had deemed these black sneakers decadent.

MSCHF, specializing in limited editions, retorted that its shoes were "works of art" intended for collectors, protected as such by the First Amendment of the American Constitution, in the tradition of another limited series, " Jesus Shoes ", introduced in October 2019 and whose soles contained holy water, which Nike had not objected to at the time.

© 2021 AFP