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An Open Letter To All My Fans - Finally I am Standing up for Myself
Blog | July 14, 2013
I didn’t think that I would have to deal with this, but it came to the point when I just have to stand up for myself. It came to my attention that my soon to be ex-husband wrote a post about our marriage in which he pictured me as an abusive monster that used him to get to Los Angeles only to dump him, dump BodyRock.Tv that we’ve build together and become a star. My stomach literally turned upside down when I read all of those horrible things he wrote about me that are absolutely not true. I keep being bullied by this man who took literally everything from me.
Here is my side of the story. Freddy and I have build BodyRock.Tv a fitness/personal blog that became very successful. We traveled, had fun, shot hundreds of workout videos that went viral on youtube. BodyRock.Tv was a very successful business that was making us a lot of money. It was insane. We had everything but home. I did not want to live in Canada and my husband did not want to live in Prague. We tried a little country in Mediterranean – Malta, but it still didn’t feel like home to either of us. In 2011 we were contacted by a large talent agency and production company from Los Angeles to discuss a possible business opportunity. It sounded great and we were both excited to move to L..A.
We moved to Los Angeles in May 2011 and rented an expensive house in West Hollywood for the entire year. While we did not close a deal with the production company and did not get representation from the talent agency, we both felt strong about BodyRock.Tv and wanted to keep growing. Our relationship on the other hand was not at all in good shape. It was not because I was a monster wife that would physically and emotionally abuse my husband. We had serious issues that caused disconnection on my part. I was not happy about the creative direction of our videos and the way I was being portrait and perceived. While I was happy about the numbers on youtube and growing business I was feeling more and more embarrassed about my sexualized image. Don’t get me wrong, I like sexy, and confident, but I don’t enjoy having camera close up my cleavage and elsewhere. That was also a reason why we did not get any sponsorships or representation by any large talent agency despite of the popularity online. I felt like our goals were different. I wanted a clean family friendly blog that people wouldn’t be embarrassed to share with their friends, and Freddy wanted to see bigger numbers. I felt like I was being controlled in every aspect of my life. I didn’t even have my own cellphone for the first few months in Los Angeles. Apparently it wasn’t needed. If anyone wanted to talk to me, they can call my husbands cell phone.
Another issue in our relationship was our intimacy. I was not as physical with my husband as he wanted me to be which led to frustrations on his part and disappointment and disconnection on mine. I couldn’t get a hug from him to be comforted, without him being sexual with me. I could no longer imagine to have family with this man. I knew that I would not be able to look into my children’s eyes and tell them that their dad is the love of my life.
I decided that the best thing for both of us would be to separate as a couple and remain best friends and business partners. While I can’t deny that Freddy was devastated by my decision, it was not true that he had to leave to his home town in Canada. I told him that our house was big enough for both of us. We had two separate bedrooms. I offered him that I would help him to get through the changes and that I would not be the first one to date other people if he decides to stay. I wanted him to be happy and I wanted us to keep growing BodyRock.Tv.
He decided to leave me in Los Angeles and went back to his home town in Canada with his family. I was fine with that and I have to say that I felt relieved and was excited for the new beginnings. Freddy and I were in touch every day and talked about BodyRock.Tv and how we are going to continue as business partners. We agreed on bringing in other girls as hosts of the workout videos. However my idea of hiring a camera guy to shoot my workout videos was denied by my husband. No one was allowed to shoot videos of me. That’s why you could see me doing only short intros to the workouts having my camera on tripod. I was also doing some nutrition and diet posts, but I felt very limited by not having anyone to help me. We were both feeling overwhelmed by the change, because we were used to working together and we were very good at working together.
Things got very tough when his new girlfriend Lisa Marie came to the picture. While I thought that him having a new girlfriend, a person that will be there for him, will make things a lot easier, I was wrong. Up until then, we were friends, partners and we were getting along. If you were following BodyRock.Tv back then you must have noticed that I have basically vanished right after her very first post. In December 2011, Freddy’s attitude towards me changed completely. He became incredibly mean, he denied me an access to BodyRock.Tv and all the social media we’ve build together. Since I had no access to our Canadian business account, and owned only 49% of the company, I was relying on him to pay me monthly dividends. My future was completely in his hands. When I asked for my dividends he told me to first sign a non-compete agreement. What that means is that I wouldn’t be allowed to ever have my own fitness blog or to ever do a workout video online. I felt like I was being controlled again and threatened on top of that. It was never my intension to leave BodyRock.Tv. I was forced to leave to keep my independence and dignity. He told me to lawyer up and the last email I got from him stated exactly this: “I want you to sell the company car that your mom is using. Aww, isn’t it horrible that your mom that has nothing won’t even have the car?” That my friends right there was the end of our friendship. I couldn’t believe it. Of course I did not sell the car and my mom still has it.
What happened next is that he wrote a post on BodyRock.Tv that would portray me as a bad person that betrayed him in every possible way. He wrote that he was being forced and manipulated to write the post about us breaking up. That was the post with the picture of us sitting on the front step of the house in West Hollywood. Just to let you know, nobody was forcing him to write what he did. While I was pushing for him to post the truth about us not being a couple, he wanted to write it in his own words and told me not to let anyone know that I left him. I was fine with that.
At that time, I decided that I will not give up and that I will continue doing what I love and he or nobody else will ever stop me. I contacted Darren from Watch it now entertainment, explained him the entire situation and asked him if he wants to be my partner. We clicked as friends immediately and we were on the same page when it comes to fitness, blogging and my image as a trainer. I got hired by his company and got my work visa instantly. After that, you know the story. We started shooting ZWOWs and I tried to get back on my feet. I can never thank Darren and his team at Watch It Now Entertainment enough, who all helped me when I had absolutely nothing. I am also forever thankful to my boyfriend who stood by me the entire time and gave me the kind of love and home that I have always dreamed off.
I filed for divorce in January 2012, however I am still waiting for the divorce to happen, because my husband is way too power hungry and wants my 49% of BodyRock.Tv which he thinks is worth his signature on our divorce papers and nothing more. I was also threatened by a letter from his lawyer that I might be deported back to Czech Republic if I won’t stop doing ZWOWS and sign the non-compete agreement with BodyRock.Tv. I guess he assumed that I didn’t get my visa.
I have received way more abuse from him in the form of online bullying. He said so many bad things about me on his Facebook and other social media and I have never stood up for myself. For some weird reason I thought that he is really not that kind of person and that maybe he’s just very hurt that I left him. I thought that he is being like that because he’s probably suffering. Now it got to the point that I am hundred percent certain that all that crap he writes about me is his cover up to justify the fact that he took everything from me and have been actively trying to destroy my career and my online presence. Here he is again with another post trying to hurt me. He didn’t take the most important part of me though–my faith, love, and will power.
Private Member |
I support you 100%! You have so many fans!
Private Member |
Hi zuzka,
I was following you at the time all of this happened at bodywork.tv. I want you to know that I’ve been supporting you this whole time. I stopped following bodyrock when Freddie started posting these terrible things and deleting all comments related to you from the blog and fb. I was also really disgusted by how much more he began to sexualize the new hosts. I think we can agree that he was probably involved with someone’s breast surgery…. But even though he attempted to place all the blame on you, his actions started to reveal his character. The lack of professionalism of the site is what ultimately caused me to stop following.. and when I saw that you started posting videos again, I was incredibly happy. Whatever happens, keep posting videos and staying positive. So many support you and benefit from your workouts and encouragement. I’m really glad that I finally know your side of the story, but at the same time, I respect you so much for trying to keep drama off your blog for so long despite the harm that occurs from bullying. Thank you
Private Member |
Good for you for standing up. Bullying is a horrible thing and should not be tolerated.
I very much like the changes you have made from BodyRock.tv to the ZWOWs. The workouts and your personality have always been great, but the ZWOWs are more family friendly. I teach classes and train friends and I send links to ZWOWs to friends without reservation. They are great workouts and your presentation and cues are excellent. To be honest, I didn’t feel like I wanted to send the BodyRock.tv links to friends because the shots tended to be over the top, like the emphasis was on sexually hot videos and not the quality of the workouts and instruction. It was a shame because the workouts, your technique, and your cueing are those of a very fine trainer. I would have felt creepy forwarding those links to women friends. On the contrary, I am excited to share ZWOWs.
Anyway, way to stick up for yourself! Keep doing what you’re doing!!
Private Member |
I am sorry to hear this but you have my full support. I have followed you from your beginning with bodyrock. Its funny how you felt cheaply portrayed by the camera angles and rightly so. There seems to be a pattern because Lisa Marie is on the same road!! Good for you for making the break and pay no attention to Freddie. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work this one out=) I will be ditching bodyrocktv on facebook and instagram. Its ZURKA, ZURKA, ZURKA!! Woot! Woot!
Private Member |
I figured something had happened when you were doing fewer videos on Bodyrock. I had actually unsubscribed when I saw that you were no longer doing the workouts and that the nature of the videos were becoming more sexual. When I found you on your new channel I followed you right away. Obviously, I did not know that all of this was going on. I respect your stance and your courage to stand up for yourself and your business. You have changed the way I exercise. Thanks to your tips and videos I have lost and maintained a weight loss of 70+ pounds. Keep your head up and keep doing what you are doing! The fact that you are experiencing this much pressure is because he sees your true value and knows that you are a true force!!! Never give up!!!!xoxoxo
Private Member |
70 pounds? That is AMAZING. I hope i have the same success.
Private Member |
Been a fan of yours before the messy breakup. You go girl! All the best.
Private Member |
now everything makes sense…i never liked Lisa Marie,it all changed so much!I also posted something once on facebook that was erased.Fight for bodyrock!Bodyrock was you ,not him,he was behind the camera and we don’t know what is behind the camera,no one cares.
Don’t let them think they are better or stronger than you.Don’t worry!Life,time and Karma will take care of them when it’s time.Stay strong girl and working out!!
Private Member |
Z,
You are a beautiful person inside and out. Keep doing what you love. The truth always comes out. 🙂
Private Member |
So proud of you to stand your ground and take the high road. I have been a fan of yours for a long while and you made the right move to separate. Your videos on BodyRock.tv were getting progressively more explicit. When telling my friends about your site I would have to say “look past the T&A because her boyfriend films but she is a real sweetheart and will lead you through a great workout”.
Congratulations for picking yourself up and moving on. You will soar way higher than you ever could with BodyRock!
Private Member |
get a good lawyer and sue his ass.