In a surprising turn of events, Kanye West is now suing Walmart after the US-based brand launched exact copies of the Foam RNNR sneaker via their website. Marketed as the “Daeful Mens Womens Kids Summer Beach Shoes Foam Runner Anti Slipper Sandals Casual”, the sneakers were found retailing on the Walmart side for just $24 USD. The pair appeared virtually indistinguishable from Kanye’s legit silhouette that first dropped earlier on this year.

Earmarked as a revolutionary design moment, the genuine Foam RNNR retails for $80 USD. The Walmart version was briefly available in seven different colour variations, although it has now been totally removed from sale, seemingly due to the lawsuit. It’s unclear why Walmart launched these exact copies, although we expect more details to surface soon.

The lawsuit itself accuses Walmart of producing “unauthorised exact copies” and selling them at a lower profit margin, benefiting hugely from the original design. While Kanye and the Yeezy team are partial to controversy and a good PR story, it seems that this one wasn’t planned. When asked for a statement, Walmart claimed - “The product referenced in the complaint is not sold by Walmart, but rather by third-party Marketplace sellers. We take allegations like this seriously and are reviewing the claim. We will respond in court as appropriate after we have been served with the complaint.”

As of yet we have no further details regarding the story, but we can expect updates in the near future. Keep it locked in right here at The Sole Supplier for all the latest as it happens, and while you’re here make sure to check out Nike’s epic end of season sale!