All About Laughs
Lil Nas X is wasting no time fanning the flames of controversy surrounding his recent release “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”. Its outrageous accompanying video has already amassed 36 million views on youtube thanks to its controversial themed final act, which finds Nas dancing with the devil himself. The release and all its hype has conveniently carried over into a sneaker collaboration between Lil Nas X and MSCHF. The risky footwear has pissed off a few people, including the big wigs over at Nike.
Lil Nas X has been teasing fans with the release “Montero” since late last summer when a clip of him listening to it in his car went viral. The song shares it name with the 2017 coming of age queer film “Call Me By Your Name”. The film was inspired by a 2007 book which also shares the same name.
Following the clip going viral, Nas continued to troll fans. The song appeared on the stereo in the video for his Christmas themed last single “Holiday”.
He also used the song in a Super Bowl commercial for his collaboration with LogiTech.
The song finally arrived on Friday March 26, 2021 and quickly took over the net. Parents who were introduced to Nas though their kids and his initial hit “Old Town Road” weren’t too happy about the video.
A tie in with the new single and video was an exclusive sneaker inspired by the final scene. The black Nike AirMax were customized by MSCHF and feature a handful of red details including embroidered red stitching, red soles and a drop of real human blood. The sneaker collaboration sold out in minutes.
“people mad at @ LilNasX for giving Satan a lap dance in a music video should read literally any medieval theologian” do some of you people even listen to yourself. what do you think is going on here.
— Nathan Bernhardt (@jonbernhardt) March 29, 2021
People were immediately upset and took to internet to express their distaste. Many felt the dark, inspired footwear was too much for a pop star whose biggest hit is due to children. Lil Nas X took to his Youtube channel to seemingly apology, instead forcing people to watch the final scene again when his apology cuts out and goes straight to his music video.
Nike, who was not involved in the making of the shoe, has decided to sue the pop star and company responsible to designing them.
According to The Fashion Law, “Nike filed a trademark infringement and dilution, false designation of origin, and unfair competition lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on Monday.
While MSCHF hasn’t responded, Lil Nas X took to his twitter with his thoughts.
me at nike headquarters tomorrow pic.twitter.com/iAAdjc8Ele
— nope 🏹 (@LilNasX) March 29, 2021
On Instagram, the rapper posted a video of him becoming a panhandler asking for loose change.