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 just want to thank you for changing my lifestyle. thanks to you, my weight drop from 60kg to 50kg within 6 months. Before that i tried others method to lose weight,but no matter how good i do it the weight never seems to go down. i am really thankful to you! And i am happy that you leave Freddy for your own right. Tell you the truth, i still remember the first time i saw bodyrock video on youtube, the picture was showing your boobs and so on. i never dare to click into it even though the video have so many views because i thought that was a sex video, Really! and i thought that the big numbers of views of the video are views from those guys out there that like to watch all this type of video. ( no offense guys out there~ ;D) however because of my super high curiosity, i decided to click into it, and that is when you start to inspired me doing all these awesome workout and you know what happen next :D. zuzka, if i ever have the money to invest, i will find you because you are the person that change me. i am so happy right now that you found your happiness. LOVE YOU ZUZKA!!!!
Private Member |
I was following both Body Rock & your blog at first. But, when Lisa Marie turned up with MAJOR plastic surgery & hair extensions – I was DONE.
Your followers love your genuine personality. No one can take away your accomplishments & who you are.
Stay strong.
Love & light to you.
Private Member |
Zuzana!!! I’ve been a fan since day 1! You’re sting and amazing and the most inspiring woman! Fuck him! 😀
Private Member |
Dear Zuzka,
Thanks for sharing! I have the utmost respect for you! You are a big part of my personal trainingandfor that I am thankful! You are a warrior who will survive and share your love to all of us who really do care. Your soon to be ex is an insecure man, you are the strong one who is true to yourself. You are beautifull and deserve the best.
Private Member |
I stopped watching Bodyrock because of the camera work. I couldn’t see the moves because he was zooming in on boobs and butt too much. I was so happy when you made Zwow. I a young dude I love women, but I found your videos because I wanted to be in better shape, not for THAT. I think you Zwows are awesome. We all had our suspicions about what went down. Sounds like you took the high road and came through. Awesome!
Private Member |
Wow sweetie 🙁 i never thought it went that way when I saw the post video of ur separation and in fact bodyrock Tv never been the same intensity and variety without you!! ZWow reflect a new aspect of your training exercise and fit you more. And way tougher and challenging!!! It’s great !!!!
Thanks a lot for sharing wih us what happen to you. I really hope ad pray that there will be a good issue to all of this. Keep going and remain strong dear Zuzka because your Faith your Love and your strong Will wont shake and cannot be taken away face to those who act so low.
Love and support from France, Garges
Marks.
Ps: thanks to your personality and your trainer spirit , you help me reach my body fitness goals. Merci thousands time Zuzka.
Private Member |
For you, I unsubscribed/unliked anything bodyrock.tv related. I always wondered what happened to you when Lisa came into the picture. Screw Freddy. Don’t let his words get in your way. This is just the beginning. He’s trying to destroy you because he fears you.You have the potential to crush his “bodyrock.” He won’t be the only one that tries to tarnish your reputation.
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
Go Warriorz!!
Private Member |
Love you Zuzka! Please keep on making workout videos and being awesome.
Private Member |
I’m so glad you’ve finally come out about this. We all knew something was off with how suddenly you seemed to disappear as Lisa Marie came into the picture and any sign of you was removed and anyone who mentioned you was removed as well (I was blocked from the Facebook page). I thought it was just new girlfriend jealousies until it became apparent that he was morphing her into a new version of you via awful plastic surgery. You have been the clearly bigger person here, never the underhanded remarks or denial of your past. You remained true to your new website and I’m so happy for you. P.S. I love the yoga DVD. Wishing you the best from New York!
-C
Private Member |
Hey Z, I wasn’t going to comment on this but like everyone else here I have to tell you that I am with you. I used to follow bodyrock but after you were basically phased out things got strange and I left. I was very happy to see you go out on your own and have purchased your dvds because I really love what you are doing. You have always been very encouraging and seem to really invest yourself into the ZWow community.
I understand it is strange to have so many people commenting on your personal life, but I suppose when it stops being ‘personal’ and gets shoved into the spotlight by other parties it is impossible to sit back and ignore.
I have noticed that over time Freddy continues to bring up the past, and he really makes it a point to play the victim. He also places blame on everyone but himself. I noticed that when you addressed this whole mess you accepted your role in the relationship and did something that Freddy never bothered to attempt by taking responsibility for your own actions.
For anyone paying attention it isn’t hard to see who is trying to remain civil. I honestly believe that Freddy drums up the past to gain views/hits to the site because he knows he can profit off the drama.
I hope that this mess can be cleared up for you and that you can continue building your success as an independent fitness brand. I think over the past year or so you have really taken great leaps and you seem very happy now.
xo. ZWarriors!