The Republican Governor of South Dakota has called for rapper Lil Nas X to be cancelled after releasing a video during Holy Week in which the 21-year-old rapper rides a stripper pole to hell and gives Satan a lap dance.
The artist has also been behind the promotion of so-called ‘Satan Shoes’ which depict Satanic imagery and include a drop of blood in the sole of the footwear.
The sneakers which have been created from Nike Air’s have been distanced by the apparel company.
The music and fashion projects are the star’s most revealing and provoking offering to date.
The video alone features numerous references to the Bible and Greek mythology with Nas playing multiple characters, seducing himself in what he has described as a visual feast but others have deemed insensitive coming days before Easter.
Lil Nas X, seen left, has collaborated with streetwear company MSCHF on a pair of ‘Satan Shoes,’ of which only 666 pairs have been made. It coincides with the release of a new single
The shoes are modified Nike Air Max 97s and contain a reference to the a Bible verse that tells of Satan’s fall from heaven, Luke 10:18. They are also said to contain a drop of human blood
A music video that sees Nas giving the Devil a lapdance has been viewed more than 29 million times since Friday’s release
Towards the end of the music video Nas dances on a stripper pole, while giving Satan a lap dance. He then breaks Satan’s neck and takes his horns for himself.
The Nike branded Devil-inspired shoes worn by Nas and which are being marketed by him forced Governor Kristi Noem to question the state of ‘the soul of the nation’ and the message being sent to kids.
‘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. 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.
Nas replied directly to Noem, and mocked her for even getting involved.
‘ur a whole governor and u on here tweeting about some damn shoes. do ur job!’
What appears to have riled Noem about the specially branded Nike Air Max ’97 sneakers are the fact they allegedly contain ‘Contains 60cc ink and 1 drop of human blood.’ Only 666 pairs of the shoes have been manufactured.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has said the ‘soul of the nation’s kids’ is at stake
The Republican governor tweeted several times over her horror at the imagery being displayed
Gov. Noem appealed to observant Christians and pleaded for Nas to be cancelled having released such a song and fashion items during the holiest week of the year
The 666 pairs of special edition footwear will be sold for $1,018 from Monday
Lil Nas X mocked the governor telling her to ‘do her job’ instead of ‘tweeting about damn shoes’
The number 666 is often used to signify the Devil, the antichrist, or evil in general.
By way of promoting the song, Lil Nas X is collaborating with streetwear company MSCHF on the modified sneakers which have been marketed as ‘Satan’s Shoes.’
Their design includes a pentagram pendant, and an upside down crucifix.
The shoes which will be on sale from Monday are being sold for $1,018, a reference to the Bible’s Book of Luke 10:18, a verse where Jesus describes seeing Satan ‘fall like lightning from heaven.’
MSCHF had in the past made modified Nikes termed ‘Jesus Shoes’ that included holy water in the shoes’ soles drawn from the River Jordan.
The music video ends with the Nas placing the Devil’s horns on his head. The rapper’s eyes turn red he grows a pair of black wings, taking the throne of judgement and punishment into his own hands
Lil Nas X, 21, rides a stripper pole to hell and gives Satan a lap dance in the clip for Montero (Call Me By Your Name) released on Friday
Much detail has gone into the design of the shoes which contain Satanic imagery throughout
Even the cardboard box the shoes come in contain scenes of hell and suffering
American conservative author and talk show host, Candace Owens also shoes were ‘keeping black America behind’ but Nas responded saying he didn’t care and that she was a ‘flop’
Nike quickly issued a statement distancing themselves from the Satan Shoes, denying any involvement, as they are MSCHF’s modifications of existing shoes.
‘We do not have a relationship with Little Nas X or MSCHF. Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them,’ said the statement.
Although Nas was praised by fans who approved of the pro-LGBTQ messaging, some believe the Satanic themes are highly controversial coming during Lent.
American conservative author and talk show host, Candace Owens also shoes were ‘keeping black America behind.’
‘We’ve turned George Floyd, a criminal drug addict, into an icon. We are promoting Satan shoes to wear on our feet. We’ve got Cardi B named as woman of the year. But we’re convinced it’s white supremacy that’s keeping black America behind. How stupid can we be? ‘she wrote.
On Sunday, the rapper, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, put out a short YouTube video on Sunday titled ‘Lil Nas X Apologizes for Satan Shoe’
Nas responded over several tweets writing: ‘you know you did something right when she talks about it’ and ‘don’t care and ur a flop.’
On Sunday night, Nas responded in a video entitled ‘Lil Nas X Apologizes for Satan Shoe.’
It started with the clip showing the rapper saying, ‘OK guys, I see everyone’s been talking about this shoe, and I just want to come forward to say –’ before it suddenly cuts to a section of the music video that shows Nas performing a dance on the Devil’s lap.
After the song was released on Friday, Nas put out an open letter to his younger self about coming out.
The rapper, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill and who is openly gay, explained the song was about a guy he met last summer.
‘I know we promised to never come out publicly, I know we promised to never be ‘that’ type of gay person, I know we promised to die with the secret, but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist,’ he wrote.
‘Dear 14 year old Montero, I wrote a song with our name in it,’ the rapper wrote in a note accompanying the release on his social media accounts. ‘I know we promised to never come out publicly… but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist’
