Pouring gasoline on the debate over the ‘Satan’ sneakers, South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem blasted the product, and went on to cite the Bible in a war of words with the rapper behind the devil-themed shoe.
“Our kids are being told that this kind of product is, not only okay, it’s ‘exclusive.’ But do you know what’s more exclusive? Their God-given eternal soul,” Noem tweeted on Sunday, commenting on the upcoming launch of a limited edition of ‘Satan shoes’, a collaboration between the company MSCHF (Mischief) and rapper Lil Nas X.
The 666 pairs of sneakers, which are expected to be sold out as soon as they are released on Monday, feature a Bible verse and “one drop of human blood” fitted inside an air bubble in the sole of the shoe. Noem was apparently not impressed with the design, as she invoked the repurposed Nike 1997 Air Max sneakers to call her supporters to arms.
Also on rt.com First came invoking Aztec war gods, now it’s ‘Satan’ sneakers with HUMAN BLOOD – is America OK?“We are in a fight for the soul of our nation. We need to fight hard. And we need to fight smart. We have to win,” Noem tweeted.
The broadside did not escape Lil Nas X’s attention (who was probably more than eager to hype up his $1,018-a-pair shoes), who lashed out at Noem for ranting about “some damn shoes” instead of minding her own gubernatorial business. “Do [your] job!” he said.
Noem came back at Lil Nas X with a Bible verse, tweeting: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? -Matthew 16:26.”
The rapper then cited a line from his most recent song, ‘Montero’. In the music video for the song, he gives the devil a lap dance in hell.
The Satan sneakers and the video instantly went viral, drawing both praise for clever marketing and criticism for “glamorizing hell.”
Fresh from the back-and-forth with Noem, Lil Nas X touted a new shoe design “to even the score.” The shoe features the name of fast food chain Chick-fil-A and John 3:16.
The fast food company ran afoul of LGBTQ activists in 2012 for donating to the Salvation Army and Christian groups. However, the Georgia-based company has since caved in to the pressure, saying it would discontinue the donations in 2019.
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