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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 |
i discovered bodyrock a couple years ago when i lived in germany. at the time lisa marie was new, and there was some vague indication of your existence. i of course had no background of any kind, and just got into the idea of the platform, and thought wow, great way to work out.
long story short. i eventually dropped bodyrock because it started to feel like i was watching porn. i also generally became very uninterested in working out with someone who put so much emphasis on superficial beauty. there wasn’t enough substance.
i did remember you. and i remembered your recipes and talks and general warmth. i liked your genuine willingness to help people get healthy, and i only new this from the little exposure i had of you my first days following bodyrock. i eventually found your new workout videos on youtube.
i fully support your efforts and your sencirity. i also want to say that people, even completely strangers you’ve never met, figure it out. we decipher through the selfishness and greediness and the fakeness, and we find our way to what works best for us. you seem like such a wonderful human being, i could see it, despite my lack of history with bodyrock, and i’m sure others will too.
i would only encourage you not to give too much of your energy to this guy. he, and the situation are not worth your spirit!
Private Member |
I’m so sorry you’re going through this horrible experience and that you are being bullied by him. 🙁 Keep your chin up! We all still love you and know that you would never do anything to hurt a fly. Don’t let him get you down. Good for you for finally standing up for yourself! 🙂
Private Member |
I, along with countless others, left Bodyrock.TV when you did. You are a beautiful person as a whole that is what motivates me to work out with you. When I watch your videos and listen to you talk, I feel like you are really actually care about me getting healthier and fitter, without any judgement. I like you just want me to discover my best, and that you believe in me reaching it because you know that there is goodness in me and everyone else you speak to in your videos. It may sound cheesy, but it’s all there.
It is so not hard to believe that Freddy tried to exploit you for numbers. I tried to hang on a couple times after you left (without knowing why), but I ended up just feeling bad for the new girl having the camera all up in her junk while she was trying to do a push up. And a little icky. And then when she got her lips and boobs done…ow wow yikes. I was so happy when you started making your own workout videos, and DAMN are they kickass workouts! And YES, like you said, I am proud to refer others to your site now. I would feel embarrassed to tell my mom to look up BR.TV.
You kick butt, and I thank you for everything! Don’t let douche bags from your past get you down!
Private Member |
I hope things work in your favor, zuz. I was sad when i didnt see you on bodyrock anymore. I remember you posted your videos using a tripod and i enjoyed those too. You have a great personality and likability that none of the other hosts on the dailyhiit have. Stay strong and dont give up. Shit happens and you learn how strong you are when you have to get through it.
Private Member |
You are a realy strong woman! Keep your head up!! I follow you for a few years now. The day lisa came in i left bodyrock and as soon you started zwow i followed you again. I missed you. Because you are my example. You inspire me. I realy love youre new videos and dvd’s. I’m a realy big big fan of yours. Greetings from holland xxxx joyce
Private Member |
Dear Zuzena,
For what its worth, I also think you were objectified and overly sexualized in Bodyrock.tv. You were more talented than that.
Wish you best of luck
Private Member |
he’s just jealous of your success.
keep doing what you love.
Private Member |
Hi Zuzka, I discovered you in 2010 on youtube and I knew immediately, you are Czech because I am Czech too.:-) I was doing workouts with you until you disappeared and was so so glad when you came witch zwows.
To be honest, bodyrock after you and now dailyhiit seems to be some kind of weird community – sect, because when I read Freddy’s last post about your marriage, I could not believe my eyes. And people say in their comments how is he brave? I would characterize it like the manipulation of the sectleader (or something like that) with people. And…when someone has an another opinion, the other’s reaction is – “get out of the community. Your energy is so negative”. Fanatism at all and manipulation with people through feelings.
You, Zuzka, have never commented anything about your marriage etc. and I think it is ok because blogs and social nets are fine but nobody can really see to the privacy of another one. Now you wrote a post about it because you had to and I am really glad about it.
So, Zuzka, stay positive and I wish you all the best.
(sorry for my worse english)
Private Member |
I was very moved with this article. I wish you nothing but success. You completely deserve it, F-guy (won’t even mention his name) will get it all back in horrible karma points. Don’t worry. I think your actions speak for yourself and it was very easy to realize (for the ones who don’t know you guys) who’s a nice a person and who isn’t from the very beginning.
And true, I also stopped following bodyrock.tv i felt it became tacky and with a blow up doll mentality.
Private Member |
you made bodyrock what it was and have now built yourself up again from scratch. Do not let Freddy or anyone take that away from you. Fight for what is rightfully yours!