TMZ reported on July 31, 2026, that Sid Wilson had been permanently removed from his role as Slipknot's turntablist and keyboardist after more than 28 years with the band. According to the outlet, citing a source close to the group, Wilson was notified late that Friday afternoon that he was out. No reason for the decision was given in the initial report. TMZ

Wilson joined Slipknot — formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995 — and appeared on the band's 1999 self-titled debut and five subsequent studio albums, most recently 2022's The End, So Far. His signature stage costume, an ominous gas mask with round mouth and eye holes, was still displayed on Slipknot's official website as of August 3, when Billboard published its report on the situation. Billboard

Not every member of the band appears ready to treat the firing as settled. Slipknot guitarist Jim Root — known to fans as #4 — posted a since-expired Instagram Story on the same day the TMZ report broke, urging caution. "Don't believe everything you read," Root wrote. "Stop. Think. Take a breath. Sit with it for awhile. Maybe. Just maybe even wait until there's more information." Billboard and Page Six both reported the post. Billboard | Page Six

Slipknot itself has not publicly commented on the firing reports. Spokespeople for the band's label and for Root's own Vomit Face Records had not returned Billboard's request for comment at press time. Stereogum, which also covered the story on August 1, noted that no reason was offered in any of the reporting so far. Stereogum

Wilson broke his social media silence on August 1 to promote a new merchandise store, in an article published that day by ThePRP — a move that did not address the firing directly but marked his first public activity since the reports surfaced. Outside of Slipknot, Wilson tours and releases solo material under the name DJ Starscream, and has also recorded under the band name SID. ThePRP | Billboard

The reported firing comes five months after Wilson's engagement to Kelly Osbourne was reported to have ended, according to Billboard. Whether the personal circumstances and the band decision are connected is not something any source has addressed.

For fans, the situation is a familiar pattern in heavy-music lineups: a long-tenured member exits, the band stays quiet, and a bandmate's social media post does more to muddy the waters than to clear them. Slipknot's members wear numbered jumpsuits and masks on stage, and Wilson's gas-mask look has been part of the band's visual identity since its earliest tours. Whether a new number-one or a replacement DJ takes his place — and whether Root's caution means the decision is not yet final — is not yet confirmed by any official channel.