Skillet has broken its silence following backlash over the band’s decision to remove Bad Wolves from their upcoming fall tour, sharing a backstage warmup video featuring frontman John Cooper. The post arrived a day after rumors surfaced that Skillet had dropped Bad Wolves from the tour lineup. The move drew criticism from parts of the band’s own fanbase, many of whom cited Skillet’s long-standing message of unconditional love and respect.
The video’s caption addressed the band’s pre-show routine directly.
“Every rockstar warms up like this, we don’t make the rules,” Skillet wrote in the caption of the video.
The post quickly drew reaction in the comments, with fans questioning the band’s handling of the situation and its consistency with their public values.
“Wouldn’t it be more godly to keep Killboy and Bad Wolves on the tour to spread Jesus’s message to them instead of deciding someone’s past means they shouldn’t get opportunities in the music industry? Cause I’m pretty sure Jesus didn’t say ‘judge people based on what they had to do for money and don’t let them near you,'” one fan commented.
Other fans echoed similar sentiments, contrasting the band’s current stance with their public image in years past.
“2006 Skillet seemed like they were accepting and loving of everyone. 2026 Skillet seems like they would call me a slur in the name of God,” another fan wrote.
A third commenter was more direct in their criticism of the decision.
“Actually pathetic you’d kick someone off a tour with you for being trans or choosing to make content on Onlyfans, regardless if either of those statements are true. neither of them have anything to do with them playing music on a tour with you,” the fan said.
The controversy stems from a statement issued the previous day by Bad Wolves vocalist Sara “KILLBOY” Skinner. She confirmed her band would no longer be joining Skillet on the tour and addressed the circumstances behind the split.
“I have gathered you all here today to inform you that Bad Wolves will no longer be joining Skillet on their upcoming tour,” Skinner said. “Now, Skillet’s camp did not want me to say anything, but apparently a statement has to be made. And I’m not someone who’s ever hidden who the f*ck I am, so let’s not leave you to speculate, okay? Here’s the truth. Skillet announced us on their tour, and their fans had a field day doing very extensive research that their booking agents and management did not do. Upon their findings, I am a trans, OnlyFans, bitch. Now unfortunately, only one of those things is true. Have fun finding out and we will see you on the next tour.”
The speed at which this situation unfolded has only added fuel to the controversy. The circumstances surrounding the original tour announcement make the reversal all the more jarring for fans on both sides.
Bad Wolves’ addition to the bill was fresh news at the time it fell apart. The band had only just been confirmed for Skillet’s “Comatose: 20 Years Still Screaming” fall tour days earlier, a run that also features Escape the Fate.
The stakes for Bad Wolves were especially high given what the tour represented for the band’s new lineup. The trek was set to mark Sara Skinner’s live debut fronting Bad Wolves. She was announced as the group’s new singer earlier this summer, following the release of the band’s track “Paint It Red.”
Skillet, for its part, has yet to offer any public explanation for why Bad Wolves were dropped from the bill. The band’s silence on the specific reasoning has left fans to draw their own conclusions from the surrounding social media discourse. This has fueled much of the backlash reflected in the comments on Skillet’s latest post.
Despite the shake-up, the fall tour is still moving forward as planned, with Skillet and Escape the Fate remaining on the bill. Bad Wolves’ removal has not derailed the broader run, even as it continues to generate friction between the band and segments of its own fanbase.
