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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 |
Hi Zuzka!
I’m really sorry to hear that, but I know you’re a strong woman. You’ve been through worse, much worse, and you know that!
I, too, did think that those old videos, the sexualized ones, didn’t picture what you really are: a trainer, a teacher, a guide. I used to think “Is she really ok with this?”, and you weren’t. But you fought it off and won, just like you’re gonna win again this time.
I do hope you build a happy family, I really wish you become the happiest woman in the world, because YOU DESERVE IT! YOU’VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HAPPY!
I know you know it, but we can never have enough: we, warriorz LOVE YOU!!!
Private Member |
And this is for your new boyfriend:
You know you’re a damn lucky guy, don’t you? Now you treat her very well, and if you ever break her heart, I’m going all the way from Brazil just to kick your ass!
LOL! Just kidding! You two be happy!
Private Member |
I second this and I’am also just kidding lol.
Private Member |
You’re going to have an army backing you up, Ricardo. 🙂
Private Member |
Damn right you are! Go Ricardo, love this post! 😀
Private Member |
Stay strong! Don’t ever let him or anyone else ever break you! So proud that there’s women out there who know to stand up to men! Keep training there’s a lot of people who you are changing their lives in so many ways! Thank you for sharing your story!
Private Member |
Insecure men like him do not deserve hard working dedicated women like you anyway. I am glad you are doing well and I cannot wait to see you prosper and succeed in your career as a fitness trainer/motivator. I did notice the way you were being portrayed. I noticed how well mannered you were, well spoken and polite. But I would question why the purpose of the video shots were they way they were. Now I know! lol. I could tell you wanted to help yourself and others in your introductions and breakdowns. I hope everything gets situated sooner for you than you think. Way to post this and show people more about yourself, allowing them to connect with you on a higher level. Good Job and take care!
Private Member |
Zuzana, I have to say I’m not surprised! :/ I followed you since body rock and saw the change when Lisa came into the picture. My husband and I started being a little embattled to watch the new videos as they were almost intrusive. Then one day Freddy made a post about his both ex wife or something of the sort and I commented immediately to tell him that you have never bad mouthed him in your videos or blogs and my husband and I left body rock for good. We are loyal fans and love your workout videos – we do them everyday!! Wish you nothing but the best Zuzana!!!! xo Morris Family
Private Member |
Tabitha, I am exactly with you, I loved watching Zuzana’s videos though I was not exactly 100% happy with the way she was filmed.. It was obvious that those videos were aimed at men for them to get “excited” over, not women to get inspired and get healthier and stronger. Though Zuzana’s personality kept me going back to her videos.. But when instead of Zuzana the other girls appeared, I was quite disgusted by “this new member” and upset about Zuzana’s disappearance.. I also left bodyrock to join Zuzana’s new site, coz there are no one else I would rather follow!
Private Member |
Ive been following you on Bodyrock for a number of years now and saw everything that was happening without really knowing what was going on. My Husband (now my ex-husband) did the same controlling thing after I left him, and on social media too. I agree with everything you are saying and I feel for you too as I am still going through this ordeal as well. Its funny how you think you know someone and then all of a sudden they change and are so incredibly mean, and like you said everything has come down to a signature on a bit of paper…. my Husband wouldn’t let me even have my own car under my own name unless I signed everything else I had away to him, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have so much more at stake. Yet i know how it feels to start all over again with nothing…… good luck Zuzka, thank you for writing your post, I feel like my story too has also been told. xx
Private Member |
Oh… So sorry for you too.. I was also robbed by my ex… He left me with nothing but two kids to take care of.. I love my kids, but I’m so angry at the fact they don’t have everything they deserve to have..
Private Member |
Zuzana, I have to say I’m not surprised! :/ I followed you since body rock and saw the change when Lisa came into the picture. My husband and I started being a little embattled to watch the new videos as they were almost intrusive. Then one day Freddy made a post about his both ex wife or something of the sort and I commented immediately to tell him that you have never bad mouthed him in your videos or blogs and my husband and I left body rock for good. We are loyal fans and love your workout videos – we do them everyday!! Wish you nothing but the best Zuzana!!!! xo Morris Family
Private Member |
Congratulations on defending yourself. Your fans will continue to follow you wherever you go. It wasn’t Freddy that we wanted to see anyways. The organized structure of the Zwow’s is so much easier to follow with the intros than the br workouts.
Private Member |
Zuzka,
I know that your fans, including myself, were confused whenever your videos ceased to appear on body rock. I was confused until several months go. I liked body rock because of you. Your personality and your workouts are the only reasons I liked body rock. After you left and I learned about the split and drama, I only watched your zwow and personal site. I’m happy that you have your visa and so inspired by your strength and perseverance. You have something special, and because of that, you have a strong and loyal base of warriors. Thank you for all that you do, you continue to inspire me!
Best wishes,
Pamela
Private Member |
Zuzana, I have to say I’m not surprised! :/ I followed you since body rock and saw the change when Lisa came into the picture. My husband and I started being a little embarrsed to watch the new videos as they were almost intrusive. Then one day Freddy made a post about his both ex wife or something of the sort and I commented immediately to tell him that you have never bad mouthed him in your videos or blogs and my husband and I left body rock for good. We are loyal fans and love your workout videos – we do them everyday!! Wish you nothing but the best Zuzana!!!! xo Morris Family
Private Member |
Zuzka,
I know that your fans, including myself, were confused whenever your videos ceased to appear on body rock. I was confused until several months go. I liked body rock because of you. Your personality and your workouts are the only reasons I liked body rock. After you left and I learned about the split and drama, I only watched your zwow and personal site. I’m happy that you have your visa and so inspired by your strength and perseverance. You have something special, and because of that, you have a strong and loyal base of warriors. Thank you for all that you do, you continue to inspire me!
Best wishes,
Pamela