Church of Satan voices support for Lil Nas X and his new ‘Satan Shoes’: ‘Hook us up with a pair’

The shoes, which retailed for $1,018, sold out in under a minute

(Getty Images for The Recording A)

As Lil Nas X’s limited-edition “Satan Shoes”, which contain a drop of real human blood, continue to spark intense backlash among conservatives and religious figures, one church has championed the sneakers.

The rapper released 666 pairs of the controversial shoes on 29 March to celebrate the debut of his new song and accompanying music video for Montero (Call Me By Your Name), which portrays the 21-year-old travelling to hell, where he dances with the devil.

Since the release, the sneakers, which were made from Nike Air Max 97s and feature a bronze pentagram, the number 666, and Bible verse Luke 10:18, which reads: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven,” have been widely condemned by everyone from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to Nike, which has filed a lawsuit against the company behind the shoes, New York-based art collective MSCHF.

However, one organisation has publicly supported the new endeavour, the Church of Satan, which believes in “humanistic values” and “the acceptance of man’s true nature,” rather than religion or spirituality, and which tweeted to the rapper asking for a pair of the sneakers shortly after they were unveiled.

“Hook us up with a pair fam,” the Church of Satan tweeted, before writing in a separate tweet to Lil Nas X: “The video is a visceral and powerful work clearly celebrating freedom, individuality, and man’s carnal nature. You deserve all the paise you’ve been receiving. Congratulations!”

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David Harris, a magister for the Church of Satan also revealed the organisation’s support for the shoes while speaking with TMZ, telling the outlet “the shoes … are getting a ton of love from the Church because they embrace the essence of Satanism”.

According to Harris, the Church of Satan also appreciates the way Lil Nas X is turning against religion to market the shoes, with TMZ stating that the magister suggested the rapper is “clearly extending a middle finger to folks who told him he’d burn in hell for his sexuality”, and that the church applauds the musician for living on his own terms and “being his honest self”.

It is important to note that, despite the name, the Church of Satan does not worship Satan, nor does it recognise him as an existing being, according to Britannica.

“Since the Satanist understands that all Gods are fiction, instead of bending a knee in worship to – or seeking friendship or unity with – such mythical entities, he places himself at the centre of his own subjective universe as his own highest value,” the organisation’s website explains, adding that Satanists are atheists .

While the Church of Satan has praised Lil Nas X, others, such as Pastor Mark Burns, who has appeared as a commentator on Fox News and CNN, have described the shoes as “evil”.

“These #SatanShoes by #Nike & #LilNasX with 666 and a drop of human blood in the sole is a reason why we Christians must be prayed up ready to battle in the spirit with the Voice of the Holy Spirit. This is evil & heresy and I pray that Christians rise up against this,” he tweeted.

As for Lil Nas X’s response to the backlash, the rapper has continued to mock the controversy, with the performer recently uploading a video to YouTube titled: “Lil Nas X apologises for Satan Shoe,” which included a portion of his music video instead of an actual apology.