Nike and MSCHF Reach Settlement on Custom "Satan Shoes"

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Update (04/09):

Following the settlement, MSCHF has emailed customers about its voluntary refund opportunity for those who purchased the custom “Satan Shoes” and “Jesus Shoes.”

Take a look at the email that buyers received below.

Update (04/08):

The Nike vs. MSCHF “Satan Shoe” saga is finally over. The Swoosh and MSCHF reached a settlement over the customs demonic shoes.

MSCHF will offer a voluntary recall to buy back any pairs of the “Satan Shoes” for their original retail prices in an effort to remove them from circulation within the marketplace. Similarly, the offer will be extended to customers who purchased the custom Nike Air Max 97 “Jesus Shoes,” a custom Air Max 97 that MSCHF releases in 2019 that claimed to contain holy water from the Jordan River in its Air unit.

MSCHF and its legal counsel stated that the shoes were, “intended to comment on the absurdity of the collaboration culture practiced by some brands, and about the perniciousness of intolerance. Having already achieved its artistic purpose, 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.”

Read Nike’s statement regarding the settlement below:

Today, April 8th, Nike and MSCHF have agreed to settle the lawsuit.
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.
If any purchasers were confused, or if they otherwise want to return their shoes, they may do so for a full refund.
Purchasers who choose not to return their shoes and later encounter a product issue, defect, or health concern should contact MSCHF, not Nike.
The parties are pleased to put this dispute behind them.
Statement via Nike via Complex

Update (04/01):

Nike’s request for a temporary injection was granted, according to CBS News. The court will now request MSCHF to no longer fulfill any orders.

However, MSCHF claims that 665/666 pairs have already been shipped, with customers reportedly saying they’ve received their pairs, according to Complex.

Earlier on Thursday, MSCHF released a statement ahead of the trial following Nike’s lawsuit.

MSCHF strongly believes in the freedom of expression, and nothing is more important than our ability, and the ability of other artists like us, to continue with our work over the coming years.
Statement via MSCHF

The statement address that the MSCHF’s intention was to start a conversation through art, much like Lil Nas X and his song and music video. Nike demanded MSCHF to recall the pairs.

Keep it locked on Snkrs Day as the story continues. Take a look at the statement below.

Update (3/29):

New York Times reporter, Kevin Draper, shared a screenshot of a lawsuit showing Nike suing MSCHF with jury trial requested for the following:

(1) Trademark Infringement in Violation of 15 U.S.C § 1114
(2) False Designation of Origin / Unfair Competition in Violation of 15 U.S.C § 1125(a)
(3) Trademark Dilution in Violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1125(c)
(4) Common Law Trademark Infringement and Unfair Competition

Stay tuned at Snkrs Day to see how the story develops.

Original Update (3/29):

With only 666 pairs rumored to drop and with a retail price of over $1,000, the shoe is going to be extremely coveted — especially with the controversy attached.

All pairs officially sold out within 1 minute after dropping this morning on the designated site. The last chance fans have to get their hands on a pair (without paying resell prices) is to click the link on the page to enter a Twitter raffle. The pair in question is pair 666/666, so there’s bound to be a lot of demand, enter up and let us know if you get that W!

Original Story (3/28):

Take a detailed look at the pair below. Keep it locked at Snkrs Day as we await to see the story develop. As always, stay tuned to our sneaker release dates page to learn more about upcoming releases.

As if there weren’t enough sneaker controversies out there, Lil Nas X and MSCHF add another one to mix with a devilish design.

MSCHF, a creative agency based out of Brooklyn, teamed up with artist Lil Nas X for a custom Nike Air Max 97 “Satan Shoes” that lives up to its sinister name.

The shoe features 60cc of red ink and one drop of blood. But it doesn’t end there. The shoe also features verse Luke 10:18 from the Bible, a Pentagram charm, and the box draws parallels from the underworld.

And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’
Luke 10:18

The shoe, and its message, made its rounds on the Internet, drawing outcry from sneakerheads and non-sneakerheads who conflated the custom shoe as something that Nike approved. However, Nike told Input Magazine that the brand has nothing to do with MSCHF, Lil Nas X, or the custom Nike Air Max 97 “Satan Shoe.”

We do not have a relationship with Lil Nas X or MSCHF. Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them.
Nike’s statement via Input Magazine

According to Input, Nike didn’t expand on whether it would pursue legal action such as a cease and desist. Even if it did, MSCHF and Lil Nas X would technically be protected under the argument that the shoe is an artistic expression.