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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 |
Well I could have told you all of this as it happened. Anyone who has been a fan of yours for long could see exactly what was happening, including how you were uncomfortable with the sexuality and how he edged you out of your business. I knew the delay in divorce had something to do with him holding BR over your head. I have voiced my opinion on the matter more than once, only to be kicked off the BR forums (a site which was built and made money off of the free content contributed by its fans) and labeled as a “hater” repeatedly. I remember when you first separated you even made an iPhone video telling people not to get mad at him and that you wanted to remain friends. Then, a new girlfriend was brought in to host and you vanished. I started a Facebook page called “Where is Zuzana?” at the time because I was afraid we would lose track of you and I wanted you to see that even without BR you had a huge fan base of people who were looking for you. It has been thrilling to watch you thrive and succeed outside of that overly sexualized, controlling environment, and BR went right down the crapper after you left. Sure they still have fans, but the whole atmosphere has changed, people are rude, it’s all about breast augmentation and sex and name calling, the name and site have switched around and back again, it’s just flailing. He has used it to flaunt his new relationship from day one and used every opportunity on his site to bash you, and to ban anyone who stood up for you from the site. Is very one sided over there.
In the meantime you have done so well for yourself, have been a total professional, and succeeded with your own new name brand! I’m sure he is just super jealous and that is why he is attacking you. It makes him look super tacky. Hold your head high lady! You’ve got real supporters here, who have been rooting for you the whole journey! Anyone can see what is going on here, and I for one wish you nothing but the best. Don’t let him get you down!! xoxo Katie
Private Member |
I left Bodyrock when you did. That obnoxious, plastic looking, fish lipped pixie drives me bonkers. I never even thought i could dislike someone i don’t know, but her energy is gross.
Lawyer up and get what’s yours. I love your workouts. Your positivity. Your ability to motivate. I couldn’t pretend to know you or your circumstances, I just know you keep me buff. You’re inspiring. You seem to love what you do and you do it VERY WELL. You make people strong and want to be healthier, you GIVE.
I have faith you will win.
Private Member |
Sorry Zuzana, it was very clear that you were the pure caring one. You radiate a nurturing spirit. You are right about bodyrock becoming tacky and oversexualized. I hope you get justice and then some. I bet you will have lovely kids and an amazing husband some day.
Private Member |
(First post ever since working out with Zuzana in 2010.) First, thank you for your perseverance–I can only imagine how difficult it has been for you, but I sincerely appreciate your dedication as does my body ;)! I look forward to your workouts and the sincerity you bring to them. Please don’t give-up!
Second, anyone who has followed you from bodyrock.tv to now knows that you are taking the higher road and that you don’t need to explain yourself. That said, I still appreciate it; you have a very genuine approach and it’s inspiring.
In fact, after you left bodyrock I would just continue to recycle your workouts. I was so happy when you started them up again and I support you every opportunity I get including a 6-month purchase to zgym and the latest zcut strength series.
P.S. I’m sorry I never post my times or anything like that, but I rarely post anything online.
Private Member |
I’ve always thought he was a manipulator, and while it takes two to make a relationship work or fail, I can see that he has been slanderous against you. I hope you keep up all the hard work. I love your workouts, and do them all the time. You’ve helped change so many people’s lives, and nothing can take that away from you!
Private Member |
God bless u. U r amazing & that is a threat for weak people. I fought a battle with someone I left & he fought me even when I just wanted to live in peace. Mind & spirit strong with faith that karma will manifest its blessing & punishment respectively.
Private Member |
I am LOVING the thread of responses. Sooooo much love and support for someone we know but don’t really know in real life. I dropped BR quite a while ago because I am sooooooo not a fan of Lisa-Marie and the direction the site took. I came to work out, be motivated and feel really PROUD of myself. I did not come to see where Lisa is vacationing, what kind of surgeries she is planning, what kind of makeup and products she likes to use, the stories about Freddy being too self-conscious to take his shirt off, blah blah blah. And frankly I got really tired of seeing Lisa’s ass and boobs when she was working out. Really embarrassing and like you posted above, not something to share with family and friends, nor with my 12-year-old step-daughter, whom I love tremendously. Long background but to get to my point, I just went to BR facebook page (had to look them up because I unfriended them a long time ago) and I read what Freddy wrote. He is SMARMY AS F*&K. What he wrote was so manipulative-sounding and emotional. So I scrolled down and you know what???? Most of the comments are telling him “I don’t believe you.” The first comment I read told him he was “slimy.” Anyway, the reason I am rambling on is that your supporters are showering you with love, adoration, and GRATITUDE for sharing you motivation and love for fitness and SELF-CARE. Freddy’s responses are telling him to shut-up, get on with his life, and stop slandering you. One person even accused him of LIBEL (a BIG BIG “no-no”). I appreciate you sharing this story and have to say it is EXACTLY what I suspected all along. Freddy is an ex-pornographer, a one-trick pony and I am so glad you are doing Zuzkalight.com. I noticed right away how much the sexuality was toned down on your site. I appreciate you not saying anything about him and keeping it classy. Even this post is classy. Just enough info but not too much. I hope you get to be done with all of this soon because I can’t imagine how infuriating, frustrating, and HURTFUL it is to be bullied like that. YOU F’ING GO GIRL! Mmmmwaaaaaa!!!!! Much love!! And thank you sooooooo very much for the workouts, encouragement, talks and everything else.
Private Member |
I always felt like he was the one with the idea to look as sexy as possible in the videos. I never liked him, and always wondered what did you see in him, not necessarily looks wise, just personality really. He seems so arrogant and full of himself, and you are so open, friendly and your energy is so positive. He is a loser, and he’s got some big issues, one of them that he is a compulsive lier, and people can see right thru him. Someone who never likes to smile and show eye contact, is someone who you shouldn’t trust. Glad you got out of it, and found someone that treats you the way you deserve! Keep doing what you’re doing and enjoy your new life!xx
Private Member |
I am glad your voice is no longer stifled. I’ve always loved your words & you matter to women & in this world. I feel a kindred connection with you. Love.
Private Member |
I’m going through a horrible break up as we speak with a coward as well. Let’s work out. Be healthy. They have to live with themselves. Not us.