I don't understand. Why not just make the statement and be done with it?
They did -- it's on their official website. Both on Jay's and Craig's dismissal they made instagram posts and then took them off (likely because the comments are overwhemingly negative, but I can't say for sure).
I've been wondering. When Jay and Alex got in the band, for the first few months the band wanted them to remain anonymous. Same goes for Michael Pfaff (the infamous Tortilla Man, who replaced Chris) and their new keyboard player, who I believe is Zac Baird (who replaced Craig). The latter hasn't even been fully confirmed as being the member seen onstage and in pictures.
Maybe (and this doesn't look good on the band, but whatever) (and its not an original idea either, I've seen someone either here or on Reddit suggesting this) they're angling for a more Ghost-like approach in that the members remain anonymous/exchangable. By that I mean even Corey and Clown might eventually bow out and be replaced by individuals playing their roles. Corey for one seems much more pleased with his solo career than with Slipknot (which is understandable -- he's the captain of that ship) and Clown, for as much as I appreciate his role and dig both his performance and musical decisions, might be seeing a way out of this. Jim, Mick and Sid (the other remaining semi-OGs) definitely have other things to do.
It'd be the ultimate cash-grab. Their setlists have been pretty static for a while now. Maybe after the Roadrunner contract elapsing, instead of looking forward to more albums as an independent act, they just want to spin their wheels as a legacy act (which time-wise is ridiculous, I figured the expression "legacy act" applies to bands that have been active for 40+ years, not 25).
As I say all of this, I must mention that this might not necessarily be Clown or Corey's idea. I think they have a big, big backstage operation (as any major band does) and while they might go along with an idea like this, it doesn't mean they're necessarily the people having the ideas. Not anymore, I think.