Dani Filth , leader of Cradle of Filth , once again refuted the statements of his former colleagues, keyboardist Zoe Marie Federoff and guitarist Martin “Ashok” Smerda . The couple left the band in the middle of a Latin American tour after strong accusations regarding the group's management.
In a new statement posted on his Facebook page, Filth apologized for exposing the personal information of the band members and revealed that his mother has cancer. According to him, this was the "final statement" regarding the recent controversy surrounding his group. [ via Whiplash ]
Dani Filth's full statement regarding the Cradle of Filth controversies
“After a long day of reflection on the road, I want to make a final statement about recent events. First, I acknowledge that in my last message, I allowed fatigue and frustration to lead me to share more personal details than was probably necessary. For that, I apologize. The veracity of my account remains, but out of respect for everyone involved, I will no longer comment on personal matters publicly.”
“What I need to address, however, are the accusations of 'theft' and 'exploitation' made against me, the band, and our management team. These allegations are false and damaging. We maintain clear records that prove otherwise, and any dispute will be handled appropriately, not through a trial on social media.”
“I also want to talk about something more personal. As Zoë and Ashok know very well, my mother is currently battling stage 4 cancer, a fight that demands all her strength. She has seen the wave of online attacks directed at me, and this has only increased her suffering. Regardless of what else is said, I hope we can agree that dragging families into this turmoil is a cruelty that none of us should wish upon another.”
"To Zoe and Ashok: despite everything, I wish you both well. We shared great moments together and I will always be grateful for those memories. But I will not allow unfounded slander to define this band or diminish the work we have dedicated to it."
“The show must go on, and I mean it. Our focus remains on delivering the upcoming shows with the passion our fans deserve and building a stronger, clearer foundation for all our musicians going forward.”
READ ALSO: Cradle of Filth: Understand the fight within the band during their Latin American tour.
