The model of the "Satan Shoes" is that of the Air Max 97 sneakers manufactured by Nike, to which have been added some distinctive signs reminiscent of the devil as well as a drop of blood injected into the sole.

This limited series produced by the MSCHF company in partnership with the American rapper Lil Nas X was put on sale at a price of 1018 dollars a pair.

A limited series of sneakers with satanic references and each containing a drop of blood sparked a scandal in the United States and led to their designer being sued by the equipment manufacturer Nike.

The "Satan Shoes" were put up for sale by the MSCHF company, which specializes in limited series products, put on sale online on a given date.

They were produced in 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.

Assigned by the Nike OEM

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

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

As of Monday, the day of the sale of this model to 666 copies, a number also associated with the devil, Nike sued the small company in a federal civil court in Brooklyn.

"The 'Satan Shoes' were produced without Nike's approval or authorization," the equipment manufacturer said in a statement sent by a spokesperson.

"Nike is in no way associated with this project."

The supplier is asking for the suspension of delivery of the pairs of shoes, which were all sold on Monday, at $ 1,018 per pair (around 864 euros).

He also claims damages, without quantifying them.

Nike points out that the model is confusing and that calls for a boycott of the supplier have already been made.

Nike is suing the company behind Lil Nas X's "Satan Shoes" https://t.co/tIhBh7r9fwpic.twitter.com/o29Z88On7B

- Rap-Up (@RapUp) March 29, 2021

Lil Nas Provocation X

More generally, the sneakers caused a scandal, Internet users denouncing a sign of decadence.

"We are in a fight to save the soul of our nation," Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem tweeted on Sunday of the shoes.

"We have to fight hard, (...) intelligently. We have to win."

This is outrageous, disgusting and perverted and on #PalmSunday no less.

Somehow @lilnasx thinks that Satanic worship should be mainstream and normal.

I don't think there have been better candidates to cancel than LilNasX and these shoes.

https://t.co/yrWxjGhIGB

- Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) March 28, 2021

On Sunday, Lil Nas X posted a video on YouTube that starts off as a message of apology before moving on to his latest clip,

Montero

, released on Friday, in which he performs a lascivious dance on the devil's thighs.