NEWSBanished! MSCHF Will Voluntarily Recall Lil Nas X 'Satan Shoes' After Nike Lawsuit Settlement
Nike and art collective MSCHF have reached a settlement in their lawsuit regarding MSCHF's "Satan Shoes" collaboration with Lil Nas X.
The settlement arrived on Thursday, April 8, one week after Nike initially filed a trademark lawsuit and a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against MSCHF after the "Satan Shoes" were made with modified Nike Air Max 97s "without Nike's authorization."
"As part of the settlement, Nike has asked MSCHF, and MSCHF has agreed, to initiate a voluntary recall to buy back any 'Satan Shoes' and 'Jesus Shoes' for their original retail prices, in order to remove them from circulation," Nike said in a statement to PEOPLE. In 2019, MSCHF released "Jesus Shoes," which were Air Max 97s with frankincense-scented insoles, a crucifix and were injected with water from the Jordan River.
"If any purchasers were confused, or if they otherwise want to return their shoes, they may do so for a full refund."
Nike also stated that anyone who bought "Satan Shoes" or "Jesus Shoes" but later has "a product issue, defect, or health concern" should contact MSCHF.
"The parties are pleased to put this dispute behind them," they concluded.
MSCHF's attorney David Bernstein said they were "pleased with the settlement" and "already achieved its artistic purpose," in a statement to USA TODAY.
"The 666 shoes … were individually-numbered works of art that will continue to represent the ideals of equality and inclusion wherever they are displayed," he explained. "MSCHF recognized that settlement was the best way to allow it to put this lawsuit behind it so that it could dedicate its time to new artistic and expressive projects."
Lil Nas X released the shoes following the drop of his "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" video, which saw the 22-year-old descending into hell on a stripper pole and seducing the devil. The 666 pairs of black and red shoes had a pentagram charm, a drop of real human blood and read "LUKE 10:18," in reference to Lucifer’s fall from heaven.
The "Satan Shoes" sold out in minutes when they were released on March 29, and Nike promptly filed the lawsuit on the same day.
The shoes are "not typical sneakers, but rather individually-numbered works of art that were sold to collectors for $1,018 each," MSCHF wrote in a letter to the judge last week and reportedly told the court that they did not state that "Nike is affiliated."
"Last week's release of the 'Satan Shoes', in collaboration with Lil Nas X, was no different. 'Satan Shoes' started a conversation, while also living natively in its space. It is art created for people to observe, speculate on, purchase, and own," MSCHF previously said in a statement.
"Heresy only exists in relation to doctrine: who is Nike to censor one but not the other? Satan is as much part of the art historical canon as Jesus, from Renaissance Hellmouths to Milton. Satan exists as the challenger to the ultimate authority. We were delighted to work with Lil Nas X on 'Satan Shoes' and continue this dialogue."
"Y’all keep streaming 'call me by your name' so i can pay for this damn nike lawsuit," Lil Nas X tweeted amid the settlement.
