Jesus Wasn't Walkin' in These: The 5 Ugliest Yeezys Currently on the Market

Why do we keep letting Kanye get away with this stuff? Why won’t anyone stop him?

Photo: Getty Images Jonathan Liebson

In a world full of lies, this is the truth: Almost every pair of Yeezys is ugly.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Could the New Pope Be Black?

Last Friday, The Root wrote about Kanye West filing a lawsuit over bootleg Yeezy Foam Runners manufactured by third-party sellers that have appeared in Walmart store shelves. This raises some very, very important questions:

1. Why would Kanye want to take ownership of those monstrosities? It’s bad enough that his name is attached to them, but filing a lawsuit over some Great Value brand knockoffs just seems like a battle that isn’t worth fighting.

2. Why would Walmart sell them? They don’t anymore, but why consider it?

3. WHO would buy those? Like, who looks at a pair of these shoes–knockoffs or not–and says to themselves “Yeah, I want to look like I have Megatron feet”?

4. Why do we keep letting Kanye Omari West get away with this?

Obviously, there is a very strong market for the Yeezy line as a whole. Bloomberg reported in March that West’s sneaker business with Adidas was valued at $3.2 billion. If you like Yeezys, and are one of the folks that helped make it a billion dollar brand, none of this is meant to be a knock against you or your personal tastes. You like what you like, and wear what you wear.

All I’m saying is, I personally don’t understand the appeal of Yeezys. Because, as mentioned before, many of them are ugly. Dictionary definition ugly. Quato from Total Recall ugly. “U-G-L-Y, they ain’t got no alibi” ugly.

That’s just the way it is.

1. Yeezy Boost 750

Kanye West, speculated to be wearing the Yeezy 3 sneakers ‘Yeezy 750 Boost’, arrives at the Roc Nation Pre-GRAMMY Brunch on February 7, 2015 i Photo: Getty Images Valerie Macon

I can’t lie, the 750 Boosts–which first dropped back in 2015–look extremely comfortable. Also, high-tops are almost always the wave because we gotta protect our ankles at all costs.

HOWEVER (said in the most extreme Stephen A. Smith voice), it doesn’t change the fact that they look like some boots that you’d make out of whatever material you can find if you were trapped in the jungle with no shoes. Just throwing all kinds of random patches and laces and whatnot solely to ensure that they don’t slide off when you run through a patch of mud.

Might as well be called the Gangrene Preventer 750s.

2. Yeezy Foam Runners

YouTuber Brad Hall compares authentic Yeezy Foam Runners, left, to an approximately $20 pair of knockoffs (right). Screenshot: Brad Hall (YouTube)

Crocs, despite the comfort they may provide, are widely mocked as some of the ugliest shoes ever created. The Yeezy Foam Runner has been described as a “futuristic Croc.” So, not only is it a pain to look at, but does that mean it’s also a sign of what fashion is going to look like in the year 3021? If so, I’m kind of glad I won’t be around to catch none of that nonsense.

Sorry to my future descendants, though.

3. Yeezy Slides

YouTuber Brad Hall breaks down 5 things to know about the Yeezy Slides. Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Brad Hall (YouTube)’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}]

I could get on here and make all of the jokes about how these look like the slippers they give you in prison, but the internet already has that pretty well covered–so I won’t do that. I will say this, though: The fact that they’re charging upward of $55 for these joints is an Amway-level okey-doke.

It’s been said that you can’t put a price on prestige, but not only should they in this case, but that price should also be 20 bucks cheaper.

4. Yeezy 450 Cloud

Seth Fowler reviews the Yeezy 450 Cloud sneakers on YouTube Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Seth Fowler (YouTube)’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}]

Dawg, what is this? What is this? It’s as if someone took a still photo of a dude wearing white socks and stepping into a puddle or alien symbiote or whatever else you can think of, passed it along to the folks over at Adidas, and were like “Make a shoe out of that.” The other colorways for these joints are just as tragic.

How you gonna make a shoe that looks like a cruller, @kanyewest?

Dunkin’ Donuts-ass sneaker.

5. Yeezy 500 Blush

Seth Fowler reviews the Yeezy 500 Blush sneakers. Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Seth Fowler (YouTube)’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}]

One time I found myself buying a pair of Nike Air Monarchs. I’m wildly flat-footed and needed a pair of shoes that provided the right amount of arch support for me and my extremely needy feet.

The Monarchs did the trick, and I enjoyed wearing them. That all changed when I went out to eat with a friend and saw a man in his late 50s, early 60s rocking a paid of the same pair of Air Monarchs that I had just bought.

That’s when I learned that they were dad shoes, and as we all know, the only people who think dad shoes are cool are dads.

The Yeezy 500s are just high-end dad shoes. Ugly but functional.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Screenshot: Instagram

The Life and Times of Soul Singer Al Green

In honor of his 80th birthday, we’re looking at the life of the legendary soul singer, Al Green …
Inside the Unnecessary Renovations Trump Is Making In and Around the White House

Inside the Unnecessary Renovations Trump Is Making In and Around the White House

Here’s all of the changes Trump’s made to and around the White House, including his controversial ballroom construction and latest triumphal arch …
Black Elected Official Raises Alarm as Louisiana GOP Moves to Axe His Office

Black Elected Official Raises Alarm as Louisiana GOP Moves to Axe His Office

Louisiana Republicans are on a mission to get rid of an elected office held by an exonerated Black man …
The Bizarre Reason a Black TikTok Psychic is Appealing $10M Judgement in Idaho Murder Case

The Bizarre Reason a Black TikTok Psychic is Appealing $10M Judgement in Idaho Murder Case

Ashley Guillard is officially appealing the $10 million verdict against her after a jury ruled her TikTok claims about the Idaho student murders were defamatory …
Victor Glover, The First Black Man to Travel To The Moon, Has a Family You Will Love

Victor Glover, The First Black Man to Travel To The Moon, Has a Family You Will Love

Black Excellence: Victor Glover’s deep love for his “Cocoa skin” family will make you proud …
Papoose Gives Claressa Shields Engagement Rumors a Reality Check

Papoose Gives Claressa Shields Engagement Rumors a Reality Check

During a VladTV sit-down, rapper Papoose addressed long-standing engagement chatter regarding his relationship with boxer Claressa Shields …
Incarcerated Mothers Are on the Frontlines of the Black Maternal Health Crisis

Incarcerated Mothers Are on the Frontlines of the Black Maternal Health Crisis

This Black Maternal Health Week, we’re looking at the impact of reproductive injustice on incarcerated Black mothers who face increased health risks …
Pastor Joel Osteen Stuns Fans With New Reaction to Druski Megachurch Parody

Pastor Joel Osteen Stuns Fans With New Reaction to Druski Megachurch Parody

Months after Druski’s viral parody of Christian megachuches broke the internet, Houston televangelist Joel Osteen is finally breaking his silence …
Family Seeks Justice For Influencer, Ashlee Jenae, After Suspicious Death While On Vacation in Tanzania

Family Seeks Justice For Influencer, Ashlee Jenae, After Suspicious Death While On Vacation in Tanzania

Influencer Ashlee Jenae’s family is demanding answers after she died on her birthday trip to Tanzania …
Why Anti-Redistricting Ads Targeting Black Voters in VA Have Civil Rights Leaders Outraged

Why Anti-Redistricting Ads Targeting Black Voters in VA Have Civil Rights Leaders Outraged

Ahead of a special election in Virginia, Black residents received shocking messages via phone and mail invoking Jim Crow’s dark past …
Massive Faith Strategy Summit at Yale to Save the 2026 Midterms

Massive Faith Strategy Summit at Yale to Save the 2026 Midterms

Barber is hosting the 2026 Public Theology & Public Policy Conference to organize Churches for the midterms this fall …
Maryland Mother Devastated After Learning Her Baby’s 'Ashes' Weren’t Human At All

Maryland Mother Devastated After Learning Her Baby’s ‘Ashes’ Weren’t Human At All

Michelle Bivens thought she was keeping her son close after she cremated him, until an expert determined the ashes weren’t human …
Why the Deeply Racist Nixon-Reagan Tapes Are Only a Surprise to Those Not Paying Attention

Why the Deeply Racist Nixon-Reagan Tapes Are Only a Surprise to Those Not Paying Attention

While the explicit nature of the “monkey” and “cannibal” slurs is jarring, it sits within a long, documented tradition of presidential prejudice that has shaped the nation’s policies …
Zendaya's Character in 'The Drama' Was Bad, But We Need to Talk About the Real Villain

Zendaya’s Character in ‘The Drama’ Was Bad, But We Need to Talk About the Real Villain

There’s a lot of rightful online chatter about Zendaya’s character in her latest movie. But there’s an even bigger person we need to talk about! …
Why Black Women Are More Affected by Postpartum Depression, But Less Likely to Receive Help

Why Black Women Are More Affected by Postpartum Depression, But Less Likely to Receive Help

Black mothers are disproportionately affected by postpartum depression, but often go without proper diagnosis or care. During Black Maternal Health Week, we highlight the urgent gaps in maternal mental health support …
The Truth About Why This Former Congolese President Was Sentenced to Death

The Truth About Why This Former Congolese President Was Sentenced to Death

Even after a death sentence forced former Congolese President Joseph Kabila back into exile, his story is not over yet …
Why Parents of the 'Black-ish' Generation Are Choosing HBCUs Now

Why Parents of the ‘Black-ish’ Generation Are Choosing HBCUs Now

As more parents rethink what college readiness looks like, historically Black colleges and universities are emerging as a preferred path in today’s shifting educational landscape …
Judge Mathis Finally Secures His Wife Back and the Internet Is Overjoyed!

Judge Mathis Finally Secures His Wife Back and the Internet Is Overjoyed!

Judge Greg Mathis told his fans and followers that he was going to do whatever it took to get his wife back. Now, it looks like his efforts have finally paid off! …
NAACP Joins the Growing Call to Remove Trump From Office Now

NAACP Joins the Growing Call to Remove Trump From Office Now

As President Trump’s approval rating continues to drop, there is a growing call for his removal from office from both sides of the aisle …
Everything You Need to Know About Jackie Young, The WNBA’s First Million-Dollar Player

Everything You Need to Know About Jackie Young, The WNBA’s First Million-Dollar Player

The Las Vegas Aces guard made history as the league’s first seven-figure player …