The Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne has officially commented on the departure of longtime member Steven Drozd. Earlier this month, Drozd responded to a fan on Threads about his status in the band. In the post, which has since been deleted, he noted, “They’re done with me – but we’re not talking about it. So yes I’m moving on. Just keep it to yourself for now. OK?”

Coyne has now issued his first statement on his bandmate’s departure via Instagram, noting: “For anybody who read Stevens post about the reason he is no longer in the Flaming Lips … I can say that is absolutely not true,. The reason he left is sad , and infuriating…. it is HIS responsibility to tell everyone what happened… what he told everyone was a lie. I was trying to give him his own space and time to let everyone know what REALLY happened… I will post more in just a few days.”

Multi-instrumentalist Drozd, who joined the band in 1991, was the group’s second longest serving member after Coyne and contributed heavily to the band’s songwriting process. He had been absent from recent shows, leading many fans to question his status with the group. Coyne is the only founding member of the group still active with the band, which formed in 1983, following the departure of bassist Michael Ivins in 1991.

The group will close 2025 with a New Year’s Eve show at Washington, DC’s The Anthem.