Slipknot guitarist Jim Root shared a cryptic Instagram message after DJ Sid Wilson was reportedly fired from the band after 28 years.
Wilson, who served as Slipknot’s DJ and keyboardist, was notified late Friday afternoon on July 31, that he had been permanently kicked out of the band, according to a source close to the band.
No explanation for the firing has been disclosed.
Wilson joined Slipknot in 1998 as their ninth member, shortly before the release of their self-titled debut album in 1999.
The news struck the metal community hard on Thursday as word spread across social media.
Guitarist Jim Root posted a cryptic message on Instagram urging fans not to jump to conclusions, writing: “Don’t believe everything you read. Think. Take a breath. Sit with it for a while. Maybe. Just maybe even wait until there’s more information.”
Root’s message was noticeably vague and did not mention Wilson by name.
The statement did not directly address Wilson’s reported departure, and Root did not clarify whether the TMZ report was inaccurate or incomplete.
The guitarist’s tone seemed to suggest skepticism about the initial reports, yet offered no clear denial.
As rumors and fan theories quickly spread across social media, Root posted a message to his Instagram Story that appeared to urge caution before jumping to conclusions, writing: “Don’t believe every thing you read. Stop. Think. Take a breath. Sit with it for awhile. Maybe. Just maybe even wait until there’s more information,” though many fans interpreted the statement as a response to the ongoing speculation.
Neither Slipknot nor Wilson had issued an official statement confirming or denying the reported departure, and the band’s official social media channels and website have not announced any lineup change either.
The reason behind the alleged firing remains unclear, though TMZ cited a source with direct knowledge of the situation.
The report also cited Wilson’s recent split with his fiancée Kelly Osbourne, and stated that his recent exit from Slipknot adds to the difficult time in Wilson’s personal and professional life.
Wilson and Kelly Osbourne broke off their engagement in March 2026, ending a relationship that had lasted nearly four years.
The pair’s split came roughly eight months after a significant moment in their relationship.
Wilson proposed to Kelly backstage in July 2025 at Ozzy Osbourne’s Black Sabbath farewell show in Birmingham, England, weeks before Ozzy died later that month.
Sid and Kelly share a son, Sidney, who was born in November 2022.
In the viral moment that sparked this firestorm, TMZ broke the story late Thursday afternoon citing a source familiar with the band’s inner workings.
The source told the outlet that Sid was notified late Friday afternoon that he had been permanently kicked out of the band.
No explanation for what led to him getting the boot was provided.
The news ricocheted across metal fandom within hours, with speculation flooding forums, Discord servers, and social media about what prompted such a sudden and dramatic exit.
With Wilson seemingly out of the lineup, the band’s 9 classic era members from their late 90s and early 00s heyday are now down to 4 remaining members.
Only four members of the classic nine-piece lineup remain: vocalist Corey Taylor, percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan, and guitarists Mick Thomson and Jim Root.
The band’s original lineup has gradually changed over the years following the death of bassist Paul Gray in 2010, drummer Joey Jordison’s dismissal in 2013 before his passing in 2021, and percussionist Chris Fehn’s firing in 2019.
Wilson’s removal marks another seismic shift for the Iowa metal institution.
Neither party has offered an explanation or confirmation since Friday’s TMZ report.