Two major superstars have been generating a lot of controversy over the concept of using blood in their products, with rising star rapper Lil Nas X putting blood in his shoes and skateboard legend Tony Hawk doing the same on his skateboards.
The thing that makes this a major controversy is how the public is reacting; while Hawk has been notoriously controversy-less, it is Lil Nas X who has sparked a controversial debate about the double standard between his blood shoes and Hawk’s skateboards.
In late March, Lil Nas X announced his controversial “Satan Shoes”: 666 pairs of modified Nike Air Max 97s that feature satanic images and a drop of human blood in them. The shoes were part of a collaboration between Lil Nas X and art collective MSCHF.
Fans of the rapper were excited about the limited-edition drop. The shoes, released alongside the music video for Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” sold out instantly.
In late August, Hawk announced his own item with his blood included: a limited run of 100 skateboards, each painted with a red paint that had Hawk’s (sterilized) blood mixed in. The skateboards were part of a collaboration between Hawk and canned water company Liquid Death, for whom Hawk is a brand ambassador.
The skateboards sold out quickly, and received notably less controversy than Lil Nas X and his “Satan Shoes.”
The reception of the boards has reached Lil Nas X, who called out Hawk on using the idea.
“[N]ow that tony hawk has released skateboards with his blood painted on them, and there was no public outrage, are y’all ready to admit y’all were never actually upset over the blood in the shoes? and maybe u were mad for some other reason?,” Lil Nas X tweeted on Aug. 25.
Lil Nas X’s tweet showcases the distinct controversial comparison between his work and Hawk’s. While Hawk, a 53-year–old caucasian male, has not received much controversy for his blood-infused skateboards, Lil Nas X, a gay Black man, was targeted by multiple celebrities for using blood in his shoes.
And while Tony Hawk and Lil Nas X have tried to bury the hatchet by teaming up for a skateboarding tutorial TikTok video, in which both the shoes and the skateboard are in, it still does not change the fact of this difference between the reception of their work.
Another factor that could play into the controversy is how Lil Nas X promoted the shoes with satanic imagery. He used images from the Bible that revolve around satanism and satanic imagery, which angered the Christian community and caused a major backlash.
“Most imagery that contains magic or satanic-esque imagery, even when it’s not used for satanic worship or purposes, some parts of the community see that as blasphemy or evil,” said Erin Springs-McCottry, junior visual communication design major.
Other students believe that the controversy could be caused by Lil Nas X’s status as a prominent gay figure who is living his best life.
“I think they’re causing controversy because the Christians that are bashing him are feeling the need to defend their beliefs against someone as prominent as him, which many Christians have never had to do before because Christianity is the dominant religion in the US,” said Ainsley McCarthy, mass communication major. “I think it’s because they don’t like seeing an unashamed, successful gay man refute them and make money off of it.”
No matter what people think or how people perceive Lil Nas X, the shoes are a step for him to cause a stir in his life. Lil Nas X is a prominent figure, and his stardom is growing every day because of his music and the publicity he receives from being seen as a controversial figure.
