Cradle of Filth Loses Two Members Over Pay, Stress, Ed Sheeran Collab

Cradle of Filth has experienced a significant upheaval with the departures of guitarist Marek “Ashok” Šmerda and keyboardist Zoë Marie Federoff, who are married. Both cited low pay, high stress, and unprofessional management as key reasons for their exits, with Federoff highlighting a toxic environment and a miscarriage suffered on tour due to these pressures. Šmerda publicly criticized the band's management and announced he requested his compositions be removed from upcoming releases, including a highly anticipated collaboration with Ed Sheeran, which he now called "foolish clown antics." Frontman Dani Filth responded by firing Šmerda immediately and accused the couple of attempting to defame the band, while affirming the rest of the band remains supportive of ongoing activities. The turmoil raises questions about the future of the Ed Sheeran collaboration and reflects deeper tensions within the band regarding financial and contractual disputes. Fans and insiders remain uncertain about the band's stability and the fate of their upcoming projects.