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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 |
Zuzana
We all have nothing but love for you.
I have been a faithful fan of YOU, since I saw you on YOU TUBE in 2009(?) You talking about handstand push ups and I was inspired.
I am so sorry for your angst. Please keep your chin up. You inspire us/We need you.
XOXOX and a million hugs too
MissDibs
I cannot wait to restart ZCUT Strength with you. Let’s do this!!
Private Member |
Good for you Z, I’m so proud of you for finally writing all of this. What’s great is to see that your story is virtually exactly what I (and probably most of us) imagined it to be. Obviously everyone was very curious back then but believe me it wasn’t so hard to see the truth. Just look at BRs continuing videos, images and whatshernames new (and very quick!) surgery…. and it’s clear what Freddy demands of women. You were always adorable and sweet no matter how sexualized and that’s what men were attracted to and a quality we women envied and admired, but yes, you image now is classy and strong and better! And that’s all you. I too am being bullied at work, and when I speak up or stand up for myself I’m called negative and weak, a liar and troublemaker. My response? Talk louder and more often…. This post is GOOD, Z. And it’s admirable that it took you this long to tell the world who Freddy really is. Admirable but necessary. He’ll get what he deserves. You need to counterattack, because YOU were 95% of BR and he held you back. xoxo stay strong
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Zwow is my life!!!!!!!!!! 😀 keep doing your thing, nobody can take away what you’re brilliantly good at!
Private Member |
I always liked you on BodyRock and with you gone I doubt Ill ever go back there. I’m really sorry he made you feel this way, no one should be treated like that. Just keep on trucking along, after all, the best revenge…is success. 🙂
Be Blessed…
Private Member |
I hope you and Freddy can at least be friends , I’ve been watching Bodyrock since I was 10 and I hope he stops being mean because you haven’t said a single mean thing about him
Private Member |
Zuzka I give you a high five for perserving through all that. You have been such an inspiration to so many people. I love your workouts and recommend them to everyone. I am glad that you pushed on. You deserve only the best. May you be highly blessed.
Private Member |
I have been following you since a really long time. As I followed you for years I got emotionally attached to you. I un-followed and unsubscribed BodyRock.TV when I did not see you there anymore. It was YOU who made that and Freddy was nothing more than a cameraman.
It was quite apparent that he was the one who was shooting the inappropriate ways. I am so happy that you made your own channel. This is much better than BodyRock.Tv. Do not let anyone bring you down and do not give up your right. Stay strong. We love you. xx
Private Member |
Good for you! For writing this post. Part of me wonders if Freddy grew up with a Dad?
Private Member |
Never believe the other sides lawyers. They are bullies and lie! I learned that in my divorce.
Private Member |
Hey, Zuz, your post was really interesting. I say that because I started following Bodyrock.tv right around the time of your separation (though I wasn’t aware of the situation at the time). Over time, the site, to me, become overly sexualized and I felt “something” that had been there was missing. Something was missing alright-it was you. I happily found you later, and now you are a part of my life every day. I have purchased every DVD, am a zgym member, and often think about where “we” will be 20 years from now (I am 48 years old!). At the moment, I am training for my first marathon, and YOU are helping to make it happen. I don’t know if you will read my words, but you give me strength in untold ways. Continue to be strong, Zuzka. Stay true to your vision-I will be with you every burpee along the way!! <3
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PS-needless to say (I hope!) I no longer follow Bodyrock.tv!