Keyboardist/backing singer Zoë M. Federoff has abruptly exited Cradle of Filth mid-tour, citing “personal reasons.”
Federoff — who joined CoF in 2022 — announced her departure via the following statement on Facebook:
“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.
Yours, Zoe.”
Federoff’s exit follows a concert on Saturday (August 23rd) in São Paulo, Brazil, amidst Cradle of Filth’s South American tour. It’s worth noting that Federoff married her Cradle of Filth bandmate, guitarist Marek “Ashok” Šmerda, earlier this year.
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Hours after her initial social media post, Federoff made a follow-up post clarifying that she and her husband planned to exit the band together later this year while curtailing rumors of potential infidelity:
“Couple clarifying points since so many people decided to speculate in the nastiest possible ways.
-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.
At this time there is nothing further I wish to clarify and I’d appreciate keeping the ugly rumors off my page and out of my inbox.”
Dani Filth also addressed the lineup change in a social media post on the band’s official Instagram. While he didn’t get into specifics, he did write that a “strange turn of events” had taken place on the tour, adding that Kelsey Peters with take over as a “replacement singer” (though he didn’t specify whether she would be handling keyboard duties, as well).
Wrote Dani:
“Hello Filthlings,
A strange turn of events have manifested out here on tour for CRADLE OF FILTH in South America.
Our keyboardist/backing singer Zoe Smerda has chosen to leave the band mid-tour, effective immediately.
We, of course, wish her all the best for the future and we as a band will continue onward and upward as always with a replacement singer here in Kelsey Peters, one of the very talented CREWDLE members.
In life, one cannot always foresee what the future holds for us, but we will remain ever-professional and continue on with ‘The Screaming Of The Americas’ concerts for our fans without allowing any of this to sully our onward trajectory.
So, our South and Central American brethren, we will see you at the next spat of relentless shows.
The shows have already been incredible in Brazil and we are just so exceptionally appreciative of your massive and passionate attendance, my friends and fiends alike.
Long live the FILTH!
Dani Filth, Buenos Aires, Argentina.”
Cradle of Filth will be on the road through the remainder of the year, with a European leg following the South American run. The black metal veterans are out in support of their 2025 album The Screaming of the Valkyries.