In his first public statement since returning home after his abrupt firing from Cradle of Filth, guitarist Marek “Ashok” Šmerda has declared that he is “done being used for my creation but creativity continues,” signaling a new, positive chapter after a tumultuous and traumatic week. He thanked his wife, Zoë Marie Federoff, for her “courage” and revealed that he remained with the band for years on the false hope of “better days” that never materialized.
Writing on his social media on Friday, August 29, the now-former Cradle of Filth guitarist of 12 years expressed immense gratitude to the fans and friends who have supported him and his wife throughout the ordeal.
“Many of you may ask why now, after 12 years, did I choose this,” he wrote, addressing his initial decision to leave. “We were promised changes and better days year after year, and we kept hoping for them to be real. I kept hoping because of you all. I kept going for you all. To deliver you music that brought you real joy was so incredible.”
He then looked firmly to the future, making it clear that while his time with the band is over, his time as a musician is not. He credited his wife, whose own explosive statement detailed the reasons for their departure, for her encouragement.
“I also want to thank especially my wife for her courage in detailing so much of what has been wrong for long time,” he wrote. “She now is telling me not to dare put down guitar… I have more music to make, more to do with my life and my art… I am not done creating, I am done being used for my creation but creativity continues. Something new begins. Something good.”
Ashok‘s forward-looking statement is the final chapter in a shocking week-long public implosion of the band’s lineup. The crisis began on August 24 when his wife, keyboardist Zoë Marie Federoff, quit the band mid-tour. Ashok then announced his own intention to leave at the end of the tour, citing “low pay, the stress is quite high,” and “years of unprofessional behavior.”
The situation exploded when Federoff released a damning exposé, alleging a “toxic and threatening” environment of financial exploitation and verbal abuse. In a heartbreaking revelation, she stated that the “health toll it took on us also led me to miscarry our first pregnancy on tour.” She placed the ultimate responsibility on frontman Dani Filth, who she claimed “hides behind” management “while they belittle and steal.”
The band’s response was swift and brutal. Hours after the exposé, Dani Filth announced that Ashok was fired, “effective immediately,” and accused the couple of attempting to “illegally defame and derail the band.”
Now home after the ordeal, Ashok is focused on gratitude and what comes next, moved to tears by the fan support. His final words were not of bitterness, but of a reclaimed future. “This is not goodbye- this is, hello, life is good, and you all helped make it to be so good,” he concluded.
Ashok full statement is as follows:
“I am home, finally.
This has been hard week but I am so grateful to fans and friends for support. My fellow musicians who reach out particular, who know how much I needed people who understand situation – and the fans as well, I am grateful so many stand by the side of we who make the music instead of the business greedy. It is this support that makes music happen, because you inspire souls.
I am still reading so many messages of warmth and literally close to tears, cannot believe how much love there is in this world. 12 years in Cradle, and before that my years in Root and other bands- it has been 25 year journey to today, and some of you with me the entire time- it is beyond humbling.
Many of you may ask why now, after 12 years, did I choose this- we were promised changes and better days year after year, and we kept hoping for them to be real. I kept hoping because of you all. I kept going for you all. To deliver you music that brought you real joy was so incredible. I wish band had been better to us because I wanted to always be better to you.
I also want to thank especially my wife for her courage in detailing so much of what has been wrong for long time. She now is telling me not to dare put down guitar- like I ever would, haha, I have more music to make, more to do with my life and my art, and she is right. I cannot put down guitar. I am not done creating, I am done being used for my creation but creativity continues. Something new begins.
Something good.
So, this is not goodbye- this is, hello, life is good, and you all helped make it to be so good.
Ashok“
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