Lil Nas X's Satan Shoes Sell Out In Under A Minute
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Lil Nas X's 'Satan Shoes' sold out in under a minute.
The singer teamed up with streetwear brand MSCHF to create the trainers, which are modified versions of the iconic Nike Air Max '97.
The snazzy footwear caused a bit of a stir due not only to the fact that they have a pentagram pendant attached to the front, but also because they contain a drop of human blood in the sole, drawn from members of the MSCHF team.
But despite the controversy and the hefty price - $1,018 (£739) each - all 666 pairs sold out in less than a minute, according to an email from MSCHF to CNN.
The price is a reference to the Bible passage Luke 10:18, which says: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."
The trainers are already listed for more than double the original price on eBay, with one seller even asking for $6,660 (£4,829) for the shoes.
The air bubble sole of each shoe contains 60 cubic centimeters of red ink and 'one drop' of human blood, MSCHF claims.
The controversial design led to a wave of criticism for the 'Old Town Road' singer.
Despite the trainer being derived from the Air Max '97, Nike was quick to point out it had no affiliation with the product and was not involved in its design.
A statement from the clothing giant read: "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."
Following the controversy, Lil Nas, 21, responded to the backlash - though it probably wasn't quite what people were expecting.
In a YouTube video titled 'Lil Nas X Apologizes for Satan Shoe', he says: "OK, guys, I see everybody's been talking about this shoe, and I just want to come forward and say..."
The clip then cuts to a lap dance scene from the video for his new song, 'Montero (Call Me By Your Name)', which opens with the words 'f*** it'.
we have decided to drop these to even the score. damn y'all happy now? pic.twitter.com/RGpCiiRbGb
- nope (@LilNasX) March 28, 2021
Lil Nas X - whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill - has since come out and defended the decision to use Satanic iconography on the shoes.
In reply to a now-deleted post, he said: "There is a mass shooting every week that our government does nothing to stop. Me sliding down a CGI pole isn't what's destroying society."
Some have come out and backed his corner, pointing out that this isn't the first time such imagery has been used in pop culture, citing Black Sabbath and Slipknot as examples of other artists that have drawn inspiration from it.
On Saturday, Lil Nas X again took to Twitter amid the backlash to explain his struggle with his sexuality as a teen, writing: "I spent my entire teenage years hating myself because of the s*** y'all preached would happen to me because I was gay.
"So I hope u are mad, stay mad, feel the same anger you teach us to have towards ourselves."
