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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 |
Simplicity and the TRUTH should be your weapons of choice.Lead by example. You must plan now and on to use different and new methods to deliver. Be brave, Zuzka.
Private Member |
Zuzka ! You must fight, no matter what. You inspire many people, thank you for everything!I and many people love your workout!
Private Member |
Good for you, Zusanna! You are the star of Body Rock and we all know it and follow you. That is what your ex cannot handle and is trying to take from you. He will never succeed. Your workouts have made an incredible, positive impact on my life and I, like so many others, are happy you are out there to inspire us!
Private Member |
You were always the reason I followed BRTV, and it wasn’t the “sexy lady” but the sincere, funny, warm entertaining trainer who gives me inspiration. I switched immediately after BRTV went wacky with the other girl.
I will continue to support you, and give YOU “more coffee.” Love you, Zuzka. I also love your videos which keeps me inspired and fit.
Karma bites and he will find that to be true. Keep being yourself! We love you!
S
Private Member |
I came from an abusive marriage and I know how they function. People like him are always the ones to talk crap. My ex blamed me for the divorce, every excuse he can think of, but he never thought that his abuse was the reason. He abused me mentally and physically and it was bad.
And When I left him, it burned him even more. He started talking about me to anyone who would listen.
Anything to make it look like my fault.
SO I FEEL YOUR FRUSTRATION.
Hold your head up high Z, you are beautiful, strong and inspiring.
I met Freddy, Lisa, Sean and Sean Girlfriend at different times this year. Something didnt gel with me, I couldnt put my finger on it. Lisa is actually a sweet girl, she has very low self esteem, like really low, you can tell. Lisa has done every surgery imaginable known to man to change her appearance, breast implants, face, botox, nose ect. She was more beautiful before, now she looks like a freak and that new haircut not sure what she was thinking.
Even though I have to be honest with you he cut her hair during an argument they had. Dont ask me how I know, I just know.
I wish you all the best Z, and Freddy is an Ass. He wants to destroy you and blames you for their daily hitt website going under. Watch out please, and hire a lawyer.
Private Member |
Very Brave!
Glad that you wrote this post, I am really sorry you had to do it! I totally understand you. Poor coward he is!
I really hope this drama could be over soon.
And yes, you are right, one of the reasons I stopped watching Bodyrock was because of the camera angles, I hated them.
But I am Loving your videos…and sharing them with everyone!
YOu are the best!
Big Hugs for you!
Private Member |
I’m so sorry you had to go through so much, Zuzana. It sounds absolutely horrible. For him to write about you in such a way to the public is even worse. I’m so glad you’ve made it through and you’re doing better, you really didn’t deserve all that. You’ve been a huge inspiration for me and I’ve always loved your workout videos – like others have said before me, I left bodyrock.tv the moment I realized you’d left, and was delighted when I found you again. I wouldn’t have enjoyed your videos if I didn’t also like your personality and how you are so good at encouraging a good lifestyle and a good attitude. I’ve struggled with eating disorders and excessive training and your videos have really done a lot to go back to healthy eating and exercise without overdoing it. You’ve done a brave thing writing this and I’m glad you haven’t gone down without a fight.
Lots of love, Tyan
Private Member |
You are truly an inspiration to ALL us women. You are beautiful inside and out. You are so strong and I can’t thank you enough for everything and being true and standing up to him, honestly when I started researching on trying to find someone to connect to through a fitness program I could follow, bodyrock did look like something I could be a part of not even knowing you had a a huge part of making it what it was. But I saw one of your zwows which caught my attention even more so I never looked back to bodyrock and started following you everyday!! You are an amazing women and I am so sorry you are having to go through this but your not alone you have your awesome boyfriend and all your fans. WE ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU…….love you bunches
Private Member |
Drahá Zuzko, vždycky jsem tě obdivovala, a potom co jsem si přečetla tohle, tě obdivuji ještě víc! Jsi úžasná žena, a to co jsi dokázala je neuvěřitelné! Tolika lidem jsi změnila život, včetně mě a to nejen díky cvičení, ale tvému přístupu,nadšení a samozřejmě nesmím zapomenout na tvoje úžasné recepty!
Je hrozné, že se ti něco takového stalo, čím sis musela projít. Doufám, že jsi teď šťastná a tohle vypusť z hlavy! Dokázala jsi vybudovat BR a teď si dokázala, jak silná jsi, když ses opět, po takovém šoku, postavila na vlastní nohy a děláš, co tě baví. Žádný blbeček z Kanady tě nepoloží na lopatky! 🙂 Věř si a zvládneš všechno, stojíme za tebou!
Pozdrav z rodné hroudy 🙂
Private Member |
Dear Zuzka,
i have been watching you and working out with you last 5years. i have been watching all of you and Freddy.
i knew from my heart all your story without reading this post. i am with you and supporting you.
i believe that many people feel same as me.
please do what you love, don’t worry about what other side do.
Love,
EJ