Cradle of Filth’s Dani Filth has issued a final statement on the ongoing drama between former members Zoë Federoff and Marek “Ashok” Smerda, writing, “Out of respect for everyone involved, I will not be commenting further on personal matters in public.”
The Cradle of Filth drama continues, and hopefully, after today, we’ll have a break from all the leaked group chats displaying management bullying staff, contract screenshots and public personal attacks.
This entire arc began after keyboardist Zoë Federoff announced her departure from Cradle of Filth during the middle of their South American tour. She would keep details light while asking fans to be kind to her successor.
As fan speculation grew, Federoff and her husband, Marek “Ashok” Smerda, who was also a guitarist for Cradle of Filth, would issue follow-up statements. Ashok would share that he had indeed intended to leave the band at the end of the tour and had requested that all compositions he had written for the band be removed. He would then air several personal grievances with the band and its management publicly.
After sharing sensitive information publicly, Ashok was promptly fired from the band before the tour had ended. Frontman Dani Filth would release his own statement calling Ashok’s and Federoff’s comments an attempt to “illegally defame and derail the band”.
A few days later, Federoff would share a new statement, sharing screenshots from the band’s group chat, calling it a “toxic” work environment. Federoff would also share screenshots of a contract she was being asked to sign, which Federoff claimed her lawyer called “the most psychopathic contract a session musician could ever be handed.”
Filth would respond in a lengthy statement, hoping to disprove Federoff’s accusations, claiming the contracts were rough drafts, pushing back against accusations of fat shaming, and accusing Federoff and Ashak of substance abuse. He would also share a screenshot from a text conversation where Ashok had insulted Cradle of Filth’s band manager, Dez Farera.
It’s been an exhausting week with so many back-and-forth exchanges in the public. Dani Filth has issued one final statement, apologising for delving into too many personal details in his previous post, while refuting allegations of theft and exploitation.
Here is his full written statement from Instagram:
“After a long day of reflection on the road, I want to make one final statement about recent events.”
“First, I’ll acknowledge that in my last message I let fatigue and frustration steer me into sharing more personal detail than was probably necessary. For that, I apologise. The truth of my account remains, but out of respect for everyone involved, I will not be commenting further on personal matters in public.”
“What I must address, however, are the claims of “theft” and “exploitation” made against me, the band, and our management. These allegations are false and damaging. We maintain clear records that show otherwise, and any dispute will be dealt with properly, not through trial by social media.”
“I also want to speak of something more personal. As Zoe and Ashok are aware, my mother is currently battling stage 4 cancer — a fight that takes all her strength. She has seen the wave of online attacks aimed at me, and it has only added to her distress. Whatever else is said, I hope we can all agree that dragging families into this storm is a cruelty none of us should wish on another.”
“To Zoe and Ashok: despite everything, I do wish you well. We shared great times together, and I’ll always be grateful for those memories. But I won’t let unfounded slander define this band or diminish the work we’ve put into it.”
“The show must go on — and it’s not a Christmas pantomime. Our focus remains on delivering these shows with the passion our fans deserve, and on building a stronger, clearer foundation for all our musicians moving forward.”
“Onward!”
Both Federoff and Ashok have posted their responses to Dani’s final posts. Federoff would express disappointment in Filth speculating personal issues as a result of them the couple leaving the band.
“We strongly support anyone’s journey in sobriety. Our focus remains the business issues and the business environment,” Federoff writes.
“We will probably and unfortunately see you next in court, but never doubt for a moment I can see the human being in you and the twinges of a conscience.”
Ashok would also reply to the information, writing: “I wish I could see a man when I look at you, Dan, but I don’t. I see excuses.”
You can read his full statement below:
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