Sneakers That Have Divided Opinion

There’s been a fair share of faux-pas over the years in regards to controversial sneakers being released, so we wanted to round up some of our favourite drops that have caused a stir. Whether it’s kicked off a conversation on the internet or caused friction between sports leagues and the players, there’s always some sort of drama going on in the world of sneakers. So buckle up, we’ve collated *some* of the sneakers that have divided opinion over the years (there’s a lot…).

Following on from “The Dress” of 2015 (it’s white and gold, btw), were Billie Eilish’s Uptempos. Now, we’re convinced they’re mint and white, but the internet got quite rowdy over whether they were in fact pink, as the singer’s Dad had previously stated. We’d like to stay impartial for this argument, but the Nike product images clearly show that the basketball sneakers are a mint-green and off-white colourway. Sorry Mr. Eilish.

When Michael Jordan was playing in 1984, guidelines stated that the basketball sneakers worn had to match the team's colours. Rules are rules, right? Wrong. Every time Jordan wore these “Bred” AJ1s, the NBA fined him $5,000. Luckily for MJ, Nike offered to pick up the bill. The Oregon-based brand even created an ad campaign for the black-and-red Js, capitalising on their taboo reputation, and even today this is by far one of the most popular colourways to have ever dressed this legendary silhouette.

Not too long ago, Nike sued Brooklyn-based company, MSCHF Product Studio, over their collaboration with Lil Nas X, as they were less than pleased with their customised version of the popular Air Max 97 silhouette. What made this release so controversial was the fact that the iconic Air bubble in the midsole had been filled with *real* human blood. Furthermore, the "Satan" sneaker quoted Luke 10:18 (a reference to the devil’s descent from heaven in the Bible) and only 666 pairs were made. Nike wanted nothing to do with it and sought to see the trainers removed from circulation. Lil Nas X repeatedly defended the controversial pair saying they were a ‘work of art’. Taking to Twitter, he said: “I feel like it’s fucked up they have so much power they can get shoes cancelled. Freedom of expression gone out the window.”

What's the most divisive piece of footwear of all time? Crocs, of course! Whether you’re a lover or a hater, it’s not hard to see that the collaboration between the comfortable footwear brand and the luxury designer is as baffling as it is, erm, interesting... Why was the stiletto necessary? Perhaps if you’ve got a cleaning shift at 7 but the club at 10, these would be perfect… Clutching at straws much? That being said, thanks to TikTok searches for Crocs have increased by 210% in the last year, so maybe these will be hit! We’re ready to be proven wrong.

What could possibly be controversial about a sneaker that’s saving the planet? We don’t think anyone's doubting that Nike’s Move To Zero campaign is important in making waves against climate change, but some would argue these Space Hippies are not the most attractive pair of sneakers to ever grace our feeds. The Flyknit upper and Crater midsole combo sounds fine on paper, but there is just something about them. We can’t quite put our finger on it, but one thing or another is preventing the masses from falling in love with these.