Slipknot guitarist Jim Root posted a cryptic message to fans just hours after a report claimed that longtime bandmate Sid Wilson had been kicked out of the legendary metal group following 28 years as a member.
“Don’t believe everything you read,” Root wrote on his Instagram Story alongside a photo appearing to show a backyard pool, with Slipknot’s 2008 track “Till We Die” playing in the background. “Stop. Think. Take a breathe. Sit with it for awhile. Maybe. Just maybe even wait until there’s more information,” he added.
Root, 54, appeared to offer the first public reaction to the news, but stopped short of revealing any further details about the reported removal.
TMZ Report
His message came shortly after TMZ reported that Wilson, Slipknot’s 49-year-old DJ and keyboardist, had been permanently removed from the band. An insider close to the group told the outlet about the development, though the reason behind the fallout remains unclear.
The rest of Slipknot’s current lineup, including founding member Shawn “Clown” Crahan, guitarist Mick Thomson, and frontman Corey Taylor, had yet to comment on Wilson’s reported exit.
Band’s Recent Departures
Wilson joined Slipknot in early 1998 as the band grew into its iconic nine-member lineup, ultimately becoming the final addition to the group’s roster. He became known for his gas-mask-inspired look and chaotic high-energy performances, which included stage dives and scrambling up venue structures.
The last member to leave Slipknot before Wilson was drummer Jay Weinberg, who departed in November 2023 after the band announced they had “decided to part ways.” The Grammy-winning group posted a statement on its official website thanking Weinberg for his “dedication and passion” and noting that he had “honored” original drummer Joey Jordison’s parts across three albums. Jordison left the band in 2013 and died in 2021.
Personal Turmoil
The reported departure comes amid personal upheaval for Wilson, who called off his engagement to Kelly Osbourne, 41, in March. The former couple share a three-year-old son named Sidney.
Their split came seven months after Wilson proposed to Osbourne at her late father Ozzy Osbourne’s final Black Sabbath concert in Birmingham in 2025. A source told People at the time that it had been hard for the pair to balance everything, citing different priorities and the emotional weight of Ozzy Osbourne’s death on Kelly.
Over the years, Slipknot’s lineup has seen dramatic changes. Bassist Paul Gray died from an accidental drug overdose in 2010, percussionist Chris Fehn was dismissed in 2019 following a legal dispute over compensation, and keyboardist Craig Jones exited in 2023 under circumstances that have never been publicly explained.
