Jim Root, guitarist for the heavy metal band Slipknot, has warned followers not to believe everything they read as reports continue to circulate that his bandmate, Sid Wilson, was kicked out of the group.
On Friday, TMZ published a story, citing a source close to the band, who claimed that the DJ and keyboardist, 49, had been “permanently” let go.
Within hours of the report, 54-year-old Root — who joined the band in 1999 — shared a cryptic message on his Instagram Story, seemingly in reference to the rumors.
“Don’t believe everything you read. Stop. Think. Take a breath,” he urged. “Sit with it for a while. Maybe. Just maybe even wait until there’s more information.”
Representatives for Slipknot and Wilson did not immediately respond to The Independent’s request for comment.
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open image in galleryWilson is among the “Duality” band’s nine classic-era members, having joined the lineup in 1998, ahead of the release of their self-titled debut album in 1999.
He was previously engaged to the late Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter, Kelly Osbourne. The pair began dating in 2022, after 23 years of friendship. They welcomed their first child together, son Sidney, later that year, before getting engaged in July 2025.
They called off the engagement seven months later in March 2026. At the time, People spoke to a source who claimed that Kelly “has been in a challenging headspace for several reasons. It’s been very emotional for her. She’s had a lot going on.”
“Ozzy’s death still affects her deeply. She’s very focused on being there for her mom right now. They’re incredibly close and that’s been her priority,” the source said. “It’s been hard for Kelly and Sid to balance everything, especially with different priorities about where to spend time. This has put a strain on their relationship.”
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open image in gallerySlipknot was formed in 1995 by three founding members: former lead singer Anders Colsefni, the late bassist Paul Gray, and percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan. They later expanded the band by adding seven more musicians, including Sid Wilson, Jim Root, Corey Taylor, Mick Thomson, Craig Jones, the late Joey Jordison and Chris Fehn, creating the nine-member lineup widely regarded as the band’s classic era.
The Grammy-winning band has undergone various lineup changes throughout the years, due to departures, dismissals and deaths. The current lineup is composed of longtime members Root, Wilson, Taylor, Thompson and Crahan, alongside newer additions: drummer Eloy Casagrande, percussionist and backing vocalist Michael Pfaff, and bassist Allesandro Venturella.
Slipknot is best known for hits such as “Duality,” “Psychosocial,” and Before I Forget.” They have released a total of seven albums.