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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’ve been following you for years, I remember everything and thinking where is she? Just stay strong, keep up the good work, you’ve been an inspiration and the motivation for me to start working out, I still have a long way to go. Just keep this in mind, when someone keeps working hard, succeeding, committed to their craft that’s when negative-toxic people wants to see you fail. I hope everything works out for you and keep empowering people, lots of blessing and love!!!!!
Private Member |
Finally you said what you said. A lot of us were waiting for you to tell your side of the situation. I have watched you since 2010. As soon as the format changed and became even more raunchy i stopped watching BodyRock. After a few months I found you again on Facebook and was elated that you persevered.
I have never met you but I always knew you were a good person and a true friend. You are very different from all the commercial fake businesses out there.
Stay strong and do not give in, give up. Everything negative anyone is doing is just noise. You have your friends here who are supporting you from all corners of the world.
Private Member |
Zuzka, Keep strong! You are an amazing person! Being a survivor of emotional abuse isn’t fun. I was so thankful to see you again on ZWOW. Bodyrock became too over sexualized and had too much equipment that I found rather useless. I could also tell that Freddy had problems because suddenly his new girlfriend was getting plastic surgery left and right and my thoughts were that he was trying to create another you. Your gut feelings about the relationship being off were right and everything that Freddy has done to you since all fall under mental and emotional abuse tactics. Freddy got pissed because he couldn’t control you anymore and so did everything in his power to hurt your career and is still doing it. Your such a huge inspiration to other survivors and I’m glad you shared your story with us. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to do but I’m glad you did. Thank you for being so open with us. Keep fighting Warrior!
Private Member |
Zuzka, that is really awful what he is doing to you. I always admired the fact that you never said a word about it, but I had pieced together the breakdown of your relationship from various articles written online. There was enough evidence in those posts to suggest that this guy has it out for you and you were simply trying to be a good wife and live your dream. I am glad that you have chosen to write this post and clear the air. But the truth is – everyone knows how beautiful you are inside and out just from your videos, the way you speak, the way you carry yourself, even your written words. It is obvious how many people online love you and have never met you. Just remember that this too shall pass. You are lucky to have your boyfriend and people around you that love and support you. There is a light at the end of this tunnel. You’re an amazing woman.
All the love and best wishes in the world,
xxx
Zoe.
Private Member |
Fully behind you.
Private Member |
I’ve noticed quite a few slams in your direction from him, and always found them in bad taste. I’m sorry that he forced you to expose this to everyone, but honestly your transparency only does you justice. Stand your ground, you deserve it. Your brand has grown immensely since that awful winter, and you did it all WITHOUT Freddie. Luckily a lot of people are intelligent enough to understand there are TWO sides of EVERY story. Either way you’re the one who changed my life a couple years ago, so my loyalty will always lie with you, no matter the past mistakes that may or may not have happened. You emulate so much strength, not even just on a physical level but on a emotional level and I really look up to you. Thank you for everything you do Zuzka.
Private Member |
Hear, hear! I agree with everything in this comment.
Zuzka you were the face of bodyrock tv, and it was your warmth, humour, and humanness that attracted me to bodyrock. There was a noticeable change when you left, and I was very happy to see you continuing on your own.
There are a lot of people who gain strength just by watching you being you, and doing things that are true to your values and ethics. So keep it up, you’re doing a fantastic thing, and have been very respectful and principled throughout all the happenings going on behind the scenes. In the end it seems that you are the bigger person, taking the (often harder) high road on all counts.
Keep doing what you’re doing! 🙂
Private Member |
… while it is non of business, I just want to encourage you. My mom went trough divorce with a power hungry men and it is very sad and hard. Your husband is very good with words, but actions speaks more than words, and he keeps going with the over sexualized videos, smeared makeup with «dailyHIT» and a girlfriend who won’t stop going under surgeries.
I’m glad you stood up for yourself, relationships are hard and the 2 people have rights and wrong but he is dangerous with his words.
I wish you the best Zuzka.
We love you in Canada!!!! 🙂
Private Member |
I just want to comment, I believe you 100%. I am so sorry for what you have gone through.
I have always been bothered by the way Freddy filmed you in the workout videos, because it felt so exploitative. Knowing your background prior to bodyrock, it seemed even creepier. I was happy to see that as time went on the filming seemed better, and you seemed more in control of the workouts.
Then the two of you broke up, and I didn’t think a lot about it. Why would I? People break up, this happens.
And then Lisa Marie came into the picture. The filming was back to that disgusting, exploitative, psuedo-pornographic style (I really hope she’s ok, btw. I think about her a lot, too). Then he posted all that crap about you, and I knew.
As someone who’s been in a relationship that was manipulative and emotionally abusive–having seen several friends go through similar relationships–I knew. I’ve met this person before. The type of person who thinks they can own other people–that they are entitled to other people. I’d been following you guys for nearly two years, and it all fit together.
At this point I stopped following Bodyrock, and I stopped recommending it to anyone. I couldn’t go to the site or see posts or pictures without getting the creepiest feeling.
I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this now. I’m sorry that all the bad feelings I had about Freddy turned out to be true. I’m glad you’re speaking out now. Don’t let anyone tell you you’re a liar. Don’t let anyone tell you you’re exaggerating. And most importantly, don’t EVER let anyone tell you it’s your fault. That you did something to deserve this. NO ONE deserves to be treated this way. You are a wonderful, beautiful person and I hope you can find much peace and love moving forward.
<3
Private Member |
Dear Zuzana
Let me begin first by saying that you are one of my biggest inspirations and for lack of a better word, idol. I discovered you back in 2010 on a summer night when I was fed up with my unhealthy lifestyle. I won’t get into details, but I have admired fitness gurus and have been interested in fitness and nutrition for most of my life.
I am a young American girl from the east coast. I have aspired to become something bigger than myself and I know that I have the capabilities to thrive in the entertainment industry. I come from a very broken and poor family that struggles. I have moved too many times to count. I have lived in my car and on random couches of availability. One fall season I got caught up in a bad thing. I am not even completely aware of what this was, but ultimately it lead me to make a video with another female. I hit rock bottom.
I did however get in shape using your videos, one summer I lost about 15 pounds just by following your workout routines on BodyRock.tv! I have gone up and down in weight for about a year after that though, but I always reverted back to your website to learn new exercises. I became more interested in what you were about and I decided to look up your biography. I learned about your past and felt sympathetic with you. I have admired how you did not run away from what the industry has done to your image, but yet, you overpowered it and thrived! You inspired me to continue to work in the entertainment industry despite my experience. I found new business parters and I am working on becoming something pretty big.
Thank you Zuzana for all of your inspiration and I look forward to all of your videos and blog posts to come.
With Love,
An Adoring Fan 🙂
Private Member |
I have followed both of you cause i started with Body rock, but i enjoy both websites, i always heard Freddy’s side and thought that you used him to get into the country, but i am sorry to judge you,, Finally we get your side,, and I am happy to hear it,, I hope your resolve everything and hope you stay happy and strong..
much love
Debbie