Lil Nas X ‘Satan’ Themed Shoes And New Single Has Ignited A Bloody Controversy
Lil Nas X is receiving major backlash on his latest release of ‘Satan’ themed shoes following the drop of his new single Montero(Call Me By Your Name)
Shoes that are said to contain a drop of human blood, the release of a new single, and Lil Nas X giving Satan a lap dance in the music video…clearly there is a lot to cover!
Lil Nas X is under criticism for his new single Montero(Call Me By Your Name) but more specifically the music video. In the video, Lil Nas X is seen engaging with Satan and giving a lap dance. This ignited a fire in many people with one Twitter user blaming Lil Nas X for “destroying society,” and Lil Nas X defended himself tweeting, “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.”
In creating the single that was followed by the music video, Lil Nas X, as most artists, is trying to tell a story and connect with their audience. For Lil Nas X, this song and music video was meant to create a safe space for all but specifically young LGBTQ+ audiences that have felt the same way as Lil Nas X in their journey of coming out and being gay. Before the release of the music video, Lil Nas X had shared a letter written to his 14-year-old self expressing, “This will open doors for so many other queer people to simply exist.”
Many looked past the true meaning of the song and music video labeling it as Satanic or sacrilegious. In an interview with Time, Lil Nas X said he hopes that the music video “Will open up a dialogue about the continuing omnipresence of repression among LGBTQ youth, particularly within Christian spaces.”
In releasing the controversial music video, Lil Nas X threw another curveball, frightening the already shaken up critics. The drop of his 666 Satan shoes, which are said to contain a drop of human blood, cost $1,018 per pair, as expected there was major backlash. Some described the shoes as ‘disturbing’ while others supported Lil Nas X. The shoes were sold out in less than a minute.
The shoes weren’t just under scrutiny but Nike took the Brooklyn company that made and distributed the shoes to court. Nike claimed that the shoes infringed its trademarks. According to a report posted by Business of Fashion, the production of the customized Nike Air Max 97 sneakers has been halted.
Lil Nas X did a number on pop culture news and in fashion with his bloody customized shoes but most importantly he started a conversation that has allowed members of the LGBTQ+ community feel heard and understood.
