Rapper Lil Nas X is turning heads with his newest "Satanic" themed product—a pair of designer Nike shoes featuring Satanic imagery and human blood. The story has gone viral across the internet and has garnered a great deal of attention, both positive and negative. The editors of the Shadow Path Journal feel we should weigh in on the controversy, as the successful marketing strategy also carries some serious concerns for practicing Devil worshipers across the board.
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Seeing Diabolism or Satanism featured in
the news is sometimes exciting, sometimes distressing, and occasionally, just a
little bit confusing.
You may, in your travels of the internet,
have already run across the story we’d like to share with you all today.
Musician Lil Nas X has recently partnered with a company called MSCHF that
specialises in viral novelty products to create one of the most peculiar
designer items we’ve ever seen – Satan shoes.
These limited edition Nike Air Max 97s,
which will retail at a whopping $1,018, sport a pentagram charm on the front
and a relevant bible verse on the side, as well as liquid-filled soles
containing red ink and—most controversial of all—a single drop of human blood.
These blasphemous sneakers have,
unsurprisingly, created a bit of a stir. Reactions range from amusement to
outright horror. Nike has hurriedly spoken out to deny their involvement with
the production of the shoes. The Church of Satan clearly (and predictably) seem
to find the whole thing hilarious, and more than a few respondents on Twitter
(including Kristi Noem, Governor of North Dakota) have expressed concern for
everyone’s immortal souls.
For our part, the editors of the Shadow
Path Journal have some mixed feelings about the whole ordeal.
One initial concern is an obvious one—whose
blood, exactly, is in those shoes? Did Lil Nas X provide it? Did the American
Red Cross collaborate with MSCHF on the sly? Was it taken from some unfortunate
sweat shop employees? Though it’s impossible to confirm completely, according to Business Insider, the
blood was reportedly donated by members of the design team responsible for the
shoes. At the very least, it’s some comfort to know that the blood was
ethically sourced, so to speak.
Another matter entirely is the issue of Lil
Nas X and MSCHF using Satanic imagery solely as a way to make money. The
sensational aspect of the design is clearly the main marketing ploy; the
product is meant to shock, and is doing an excellent job of it. While we are
staunch proponents of freedom of speech, it’s always worrying to see “Satanic
Panic” used to make money. Satanic religions are still largely misunderstood
and not taken seriously by the general public, and this sort of thing doesn’t
help at all.
Seeing symbols that we consider sacred used
by non-practitioners to make a profit is enough to leave a bad taste in
anyone’s mouth. The inclusion of human blood—one of the most potent and
personal offerings a Diabolist can make to the Gods—is especially troubling.
Setting aside the obvious biohazard issue of including bodily fluids in an
article of designer clothing, the use of blood is pure edginess at best and an
allusion to human sacrifice at worst. This is most emphatically not the impression of Satanic religions
that we want to promote, and we don’t agree with something sacred being used as
a gimmick to make a profit, especially for those who aren’t even Diabolists.
Though this viral marketing campaign is
ultimately fairly minor and, arguably, largely harmless, we feel it’s important
to make it clear that we don’t support this kind of misappropriation of our
religious symbolism. The absence of real religious Devil worship being covered
by the media means that, as long as this is the only representation being seen
by the public, our religion will continue to be seen as a joke. Even small
things such as this contribute to a wider problem, and we don’t condone using
these types of symbols solely for shock value.
However, that being said, there is still
something highly amusing about seeing the masses clutch their pearls over a
pair of shoes. Anyone silly enough to buy something like this should be more
concerned about their spending habits than their immortal souls.
All religious qualms aside, on some level,
we do appreciate the inherent hilarity of this story. We can’t deny that the
marketing being used here is highly effective, as the limited 666 pairs are
already highly sought after even well prior to their release, and we can’t help
but admire the sheer audacity of Lil Nas X and MSCHF in putting this sort of
product up for sale. The story has ripped through social media like wildfire,
ruffling feathers and splitting sides as it goes. We almost wish that we had
thought of this first!
We’d also like to think that Anton LaVey
might have one day had his own line of “Satan shoes”, were he still alive to
appreciate the idea.
