Former NIGHTWISH vocalist Anette Olzon recently spoke to Finland’s Menaiset about her split from the band in 2012, laying claims that she was fired when she revealed she was pregnant with her third child.
Quotes from the story (translated from Finnish) are available below:
No one from the band visited me while I was in the hospital,” Olzon says with regards to coming down with the flu in Denver, CO. “I suggested we cancel shows until I was well enough to return to the road but the boys didn’t want to even consider that. Floor Jansen (REVAMP, ex-AFTER FOREVER) had replaced me before I had recovered.”
“I wondered what I had done wrong to deserve this,” she says of getting fired. “I was also, of course, worried that I wouldn’t be able to support my family.”
“I’ve often thought about calling Tuomas (Holopainen) to get some closure. I don’t think this is over yet.”
Since the story went live, the Nightwish camp responded via their official website here disputing many of Olzon’s claims in the Menaiset article:
“Welcome to the laundry room…
The interview of our former vocalist Anette in Me Naiset magazine is full of twisted truths and defamation. This ‘one woman vs. the Neanderthals’ scenario is an easy to way to take advantage of our media history.
The split with Anette wasn’t because of pregnancy or illness. We discovered her personality didn’t fit this work community, and was even detrimental to it.
These claims we can invalidate right away:
Claim: Moments before being fired, Anette had told Tuomas Holopainen of her pregnancy
Truth: Anette told of her pregnancy to the whole band already a week earlier in Montreal. Everyone was congratulative, and Anette herself offered an option of hiring a replacement vocalist if she can’t manage everything, which was already agreed on. Later she took back her decision, and the difficulties really started. Fear of losing money and position seemed obvious.
Claim: The boys of the band decided everything for me
Truth: Neither Tuomas nor any other of the boys of the band can singlehandedly decide where we take off to and when. There have been discussions inside the band and support of people on a personal level. Also Anette. Managers and promoters discuss about possible concerts, record releases, etc., and wishes of all the band members have been taken into account. All these details have been negotiated with Anette and her manager. We have the e-mails.
“To keep the touring life bearable, it’s reasonable and right to make things comfortable on a personal level. Based on these discussions, Anette was given liberties from interviews and fan meetings. She and her family got an own tour bus and driver in both Europe and America. The expenses were paid by the organization, not Anette or her company. Others of the band didn’t use similar benefits.
Claim: Other income went directly to the men
Truth: Anette and her company has been paid a fifth of everything that was done during her time and with her. We have no reason to lie, because this cake has provided enough slices for us all. The finances of the band have always been handled openly, honestly and evenhandedly. The books exist. How individual members spend their share is up to their own responsibility.
We neither want to nor intend to comment this more now.
Doing the laundry is tiring. Remember to help your ladies with that occasionally.”