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Keyboardist Zoe and guitarist Ashok exit amid toxic touring conditions; Zoe reveals miscarriage, alleged financial exploitation, and warns future members to “READ THE CONTRACT.”

Cradle of Filth’s Screaming of the Americas tour has erupted into chaos. First came the shock of keyboardist and backing vocalist Zoe Marie Federoff abruptly leaving mid-tour, citing personal reasons and a toxic environment. Days later, guitarist Marek “Ashok” Šmerda confirmed he will leave at the conclusion of the current run, slamming what he described as years of unprofessionalism, low pay, and a lack of care for band members. In a follow-up statement, Zoe delivered a scathing indictment of the band’s management and frontman Dani Filth, alleging an attempted seizure of album advance money, abusive contracts, and the personal toll of the grueling tour — including a miscarriage — while urging future session musicians to protect themselves legally.

Zoe Exits Mid-Tour: Personal Reasons and a Call for Respect

The first shockwave came when Zoe released a brief statement explaining her immediate departure:

“It is with deep regret I share that for personal reasons I am unable to continue this tour and continue in general with Cradle of Filth. Please respect my privacy and my family’s privacy. I will answer no further questions. Be kind to my successor. I wish her and my now former bandmates well. … At least, like Roy Khan said over a decade ago, God was there after all.”

Dani Filth described the announcement as a “strange turn of events,” confirming that Kelsey Peters, a trusted member of the band’s extended crew, would step in to cover Zoe’s role on stage.

In a subsequent clarification, Zoe addressed rampant online speculation:

“Ashok isn’t cheating. While the turmoil of being in the band has taken its toll on us, we remain very much certain that we love each other. Please be kind to my husband. He is a good man.” “We were already planning to leave the band later this year. Certain events have sped that up for me.”

Zoe praised Kelsey as “one of the greatest singers I’ve ever been privileged to hear” and urged fans to support her while continuing to enjoy the remaining shows.

Ashok Announces Departure: “Years of Unprofessional Behavior”

Days after Zoe’s exit, Ashok issued a direct and emotionally charged statement, confirming he would leave Cradle of Filth at the end of the tour:

“I am indeed leaving Cradle of Filth at the end of this current tour… We simply do not feel like Cradle can provide for our future, and in fact hinders it. … a lot of work for relatively low pay, the stress is quite high, and we haven’t felt for a while like this band actually prioritizing/caring about members. It has been years of unprofessional behavior from people above us that led to our decision.”

He requested that all his compositions, including a collaboration with Ed Sheeran, be removed from upcoming releases. Calling the track “foolish clown antics,” he refused any further involvement, emphasizing a desire to focus on his personal life.

Ashok concluded with a pledge to finish the tour strongly, both for fans and friends in the crew, and a firm admonition to the public:

“Leave my wife alone. NEVER insult her or her choices in my presence… or else.”

Zoe’s Explosive Follow-Up: Accusations of Management Misconduct and ‘Psychopathic’ Contracts

Shortly after Ashok’s announcement, Zoe released a scathing follow-up that expands dramatically on their reasons for leaving and the toxic environment behind the scenes as reported by both of their statements. In her more in depth follow up, Zoë warned future session musicians to:

“READ THE CONTRACT. We planned this transition out of Cradle of Filth months ago. Management is dishonest, manipulative, and tries to take money that belongs to us with no contract between us session musicians and him.”

According to Zoe, when she challenged management over an attempted seizure of album advance funds from Screaming of the Valkyries, she was called a “cancer” and a “dead horse,” and threatened with termination. She explicitly holds Dani Filth responsible for hiring and shielding management, noting:

“He might not get his hands dirty, but in the end, he directs them. The atmosphere he creates is threatening and abusive and constantly exploits us for very low wages yet also demands exclusivity to Cradle’s schedule. We do not make even the bare cost of living, yet we are told not to tour with other bands to supplement income. It is madness to keep people locked in poverty for the ego of one person.”

Zoe attached the contract offered to session members, seen below — a proposed 25% raise, which she describes as “the first raise in 7 years” — and called it “the most psychopathic contract a session musician could ever be handed.” She and Ashok refused to sign, choosing instead to exit the band to safeguard their health, finances, and marriage.

Tragically, Zoe revealed that the intense stress and toxic touring environment contributed to a miscarriage during the tour. Her statement concludes with a powerful personal note:

“We left because we were being used and paid less than the cost of living, the environment is toxic and threatening, and the toll it was taking on our lives and our marriage grew too great. Now that we are out, the sun is shining, our family has hope.”

She warns future session musicians to approach any engagement with the band carefully and legally, ending with a farewell to fans and crew, the only positive memories they take from this chapter.

Tour Continues Amidst Unprecedented Turmoil

Despite these upheavals, Cradle of Filth has not canceled a single show. According to the official Cradle of Filth website, upcoming Screaming of the Americas tour dates include:

August 26 – Montevideo, Uruguay (Montevideo Music Box)

August 28 – Santiago, Chile (Teatro Coliseo) August 29 – Concepción, Chile (Havana Club) August 31 – Lima, Peru (Teatro Leguía) September 2 – Bogotá, Colombia (Royal Center) September 4 – Panama City, Panama (Latitude 47)

September 6 – San José, Costa Rica (Pepper Disco Club)

September 7 – San Salvador, El Salvador (Gimnasio Nacional José Adolfo Pineda)

September 9 – Guatemala City, Guatemala (Parque de la Industria)

September 11 – Ciudad Juárez, Mexico (Magno Discoteque)

Following Latin America, the band heads into Europe for their Splintered in Winter leg, hitting major cities across Germany, Scandinavia, and more. Ashok’s final performance is expected before the European run or during its early dates.

Reading Between the Lines: Implications of the Departures

Zoe’s statements allege a systemic problem: low wages, excessive control, and what she describes as abusive management behavior, which she claims were condoned, or at least ignored, by the frontman.

Financial and Emotional Toll

Ashok’s low-pay critique, combined with Zoe’s account of an attempted misappropriation of funds, highlights a financial strain that rivals the emotional one. Their transparency about the miscarriage underscores the extreme human cost behind the stage theatrics.

Unified, Not Fractured

The couple’s decisions, taken together, emphasize unity rather than betrayal. Both highlight that leaving is about survival and personal dignity, not scandal or marital discord.

Kelsey Peters Steps Up

Zoe’s praise of Kelsey Peters serves as a stabilizing factor. Peters now bears the responsibility of maintaining performance standards mid-tour, while fans adjust to the new dynamic.

What Lies Ahead

Cradle of Filth faces a critical test in maintaining cohesion and professionalism while managing touring obligations. The band has historically weathered lineup changes, but losing two key members simultaneously is unprecedented in recent decades. Ashok and Zoe appear focused on their personal futures and health. Ashok’s statement and Zoe’s follow-up indicate they are stepping away from extreme touring to preserve family life, well-being, and financial security. The Fans must navigate shows with a heightened awareness of the personal sacrifices behind the performance. The shows themselves remain intense, theatrical, and fully alive, but the narrative around them has shifted irrevocably.

For Zoe and Ashok, this saga represents not merely a lineup shakeup, but what they characterize as management malpractice, abusive behavior, and the human cost of extreme metal touring.

Update (August 27th, 2025): Official Statement from Dani Filth

In response to the recent departures of Zoe and Ashok, Dani Filth issued the following statement addressing the issue:

“It is with a grave heart that Cradle Of Filth officially announce the firing of guitarist Marek ‘Ashok’ Smerda from the band, effective immediately.

Despite all attempts to illegally defame and derail the band, Cradle Of Filth WILL NOT cancel any of our South American shows, though fans will have to bear with us being a band with only one guitarist live, that is of course until Ashok’s temporary replacement is flown out to join the tour in a few days time.

Thank you for your understanding in this horrible matter, we are all in a state of shock over proceedings and will share our side to these unfortunate events in due course. Please, respect our decision to part with Ashok now rather than at the end of the tour and avoid speculation as more clarity on the situation will be provided.

The rest of the band are cool, even if taken aback, and accusations toward management, who work very closely with me and the band are completely unjust and unfounded.

Patience is a virtue and the truth will always out.

Thank you once again fellow Filthlings and we look forward to the rest of ‘The Screaming Of The Américas’ tour here in Uruguay and beyond. 🤘🏻

Your fiend, Dani”

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Editor’s Note (August 27, 2025): The article has been updated to clarify attribution of statements from Zoe and Ashok and to include Dani Filth’s official statement responding to the departures.