Cradle Of Filth has been having a rough go of things in the public eye. It all started when keyboardist and vocalist Zoe Marie Federoff quit mid-tour on August 24, with her husband and Cradle Of Filth guitarist Marek “Ashok” Smerda following shortly thereafter.
Following their exits, Federoff and Smerda took to social media with allegations of inadequate pay, a threatening work environment, and an unfair contract they said they refused to sign. Dani Filth responded in late August with accusations of his own, claiming alcohol misuse by the couple and sharing messages involving Dez Fafara. By September, both sides issued statements suggesting a de-escalation of their dispute, but tensions continued to simmer beneath the surface.
On November 26, a new escalation surfaced when reports circulated that several former Cradle of Filth members had united to file a lawsuit against Dani Filth, the band’s affiliated business entities, and The Oracle Management (which you can find right here).
Filed in Arizona on September 30, 2025, and amended on November 20th, the suit’s plaintiffs include Federoff, Smerda, longtime guitarist Paul Allender, former keyboardist and vocalist Lindsay Matheson (Lindsay Schoolcraft), former guitarist Richard Shaw, and Sasha Baxter, who appeared in two of the band’s music videos.
The lawsuit alleges a wide range of misconduct: unauthorized commercial use of the plaintiffs’ likenesses, unpaid royalties for live performances and recorded works, misuse of Matheson’s copyrighted sigils, disparaging statements about Federoff and Smerda, and unjust enrichment from Baxter’s video appearances and from the plaintiffs’ involvement in meet-and-greets.
Several plaintiffs state they never signed agreements allowing Cradle of Filth or its management to use their names, images, or recorded contributions, yet the band allegedly profited from this material without compensation.
Further claims address withheld financial accounting related to merchandise, recordings, publishing agreements, and paid fan events. Plaintiffs also cite more personal grievances, including the alleged destruction of Federoff’s microphone, the non-return of her in-ear monitors, and unpaid performance fees for what became the couple’s final shows with the band in August. The collective asserts that these actions contributed to professional, financial, and reputational harm.
The plaintiffs seek broad remedies: halting and destroying merchandise bearing their likenesses, holding the band liable for conversion of missing or damaged equipment, awarding compensatory and punitive damages for financial losses and emotional distress, and covering all legal fees. They also request a jury trial.
The defendants have not yet addressed the lawsuit.
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