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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 |
Z, keep your head high, take a screenshot of each of his slanderous posts, show it to your lawyers and ask them to see if it can help your case in any way. Dont give up coz all of us Warriorz are right beside you. You are loved! Never forget that!
Private Member |
You are a superstar. I have watched and loved your stuff from the beginning – u are amazing.
Private Member |
Good for you for standing up for yourself, dear.
Before you started ZWows, and before I finally walked away from BodyRock, I was telling my friends how negative the environment there had become, and was wondering what in the world was happening to Lisa Marie.
Thank you so much for not giving in to Freddy’s overbearing attitude and doing everything you could to be there for us. Your cheerful nature and ready smile are what has motivated me to take control of my body.
Private Member |
I am on board with everyone you have truly been a inspiration for me myself and I was so glad you left bodyrock tv!!!!! Everything seemed sexual i disnt too much care for the guy who I didn’t know was your husband. I thought he had other intentions it was like a mini porn/ fitness video. Your an inspiration and its good you stood up for yourself. Viewers can see what was happening and what is still occurring. Keep up the good work and thanks for staying true to yourself. Even with the recent decision to market DVD’s everything has been tasteful, reasonably prices and the same you that we have seen since the beginning. Please keep up the good work and I hope to see you getting more publicity that you deserve.
P.S I have the yoga, cardio, and strength DVDs and they are great best fitness DVDs I have ever purchased!
Private Member |
Nobody gives a shit about freddy. It was always about you and your workouts, and we’ll continue to support you through whatever you’re going through.
Private Member |
I started getting a really bad feeling about Freddy and what he was posting pretty soon after it came out that you guys were no longer together. I can’t say I’m surprised, as it’s exactly what I feared… But, Freddy et al are no longer getting my clicks or support, and haven’t for months (I even de-liked them on facebook, there was way too many nasty backhanded posts about your relationship, while you continued to take the high road and not say anything).
I’m sorry this happened, but I’m glad you got away from that situation.
Private Member |
I unliked them, too. The whole community became so negative.
Private Member |
I have been so worried about what was going on with you and honestly, I really missed you. I stopped working out when you left for awhile and finally recorded the old videos so I could watch your workouts. I think I’ll head on over to facebook and “unlike” BodyRockTV. I’m so sorry you are going through this and please know your fans love and adore you and we are just glad to get you back. BTW, a lawyer that threatens anyone with deportation can be brought in front of the licensure board to lose his license to practice law. It’s illegal to do it and if you need help I know a free lawyer that would assist you. 😉
Private Member |
So sorry you are going through all this but you know what you are a better and stronger person b/c cause of it. Remain stong and know you are loved by your fans!
Private Member |
Hi Zuzka,
I’m your follower since 2009 and I’ve seen many thinks on bodyrock which happened. You were and you still are giving us so much love and faith that even after breaking bodyrock I personally and I think many others have problem to come back to bodyrock, why should we? Many comments written on bodyrock.tv at the time when you broke up were saying about you. And I know exactly why, Fredy didn’t do the important part for us, you were the personality of bodyrock and in minds of many your follower still be. Your great person and the way of your attitude towards us is so precious we can’t wish better trainer 🙂 I could write hundreds of pages about you and how you influnce people to do something with their life but now to shorten it up I just say Thank YOU for everything you’ve done for us.
P.S. your the evidence that if your giving love to others you’ll receive it back 😉
Private Member |
Keep up the great work. You don’t need close up to sell your product. Your belief in what you are doing come across in how you say it. Your work outs are great. Believe in yourself and keep spreading the fitness lifestyle. You inspire too many people with your routines and passion. The passion in what you do comes through in how you say it, in your eyes, and what you do. You don’t need close ups for that.
Peter