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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 |
you’re a strong women! Way to keep your head up and keep doing what you love 🙂
Private Member |
Z, I’m so glad that you finally spoke your/the truth. We needed to hear it and we needed to hear it from you! It all makes sense now. All of us “old BodyRockers” were going out of our minds during that time. Nothing made sense and we were looking for answers. You kept quiet and never said a word about the situation, perhaps because of the divorce, yet we could not believe a word from Freddy.
We didn’t like the direction that BodyRock was taking when Lisa Marie came on the scene. If anyone had something to say that they didn’t like, be it mentioning your name or asking after you or criticizing the sexual content, we would just get booted from their pages. It was bizarre. We weren’t being mean or ‘haters’ as they love to call us, just giving constructive criticism.
Slowly but surely we left, the true original BodyRockers and started our own little support groups. You can image our elated joy when we found you again.
Thanks for coming back and not allowing this (I could choose a lot of choice words here) BLEEP to control, manipulate and destroy you. You are a strong woman and you will get trough this trying time.
There are hundreds of thousands of people all around the world who are standing behind you, who love, adore and support you. Focus on that and keep doing what you love and stay true to yourself.
Much love
Lychelle from South Africa
Private Member |
Zuzana, you’re going through an awakening: where you start listening to your soul again.
Would you believe me if I told you that since the first time I saw Freddy- and especially after your breakup- I knew he was a psychopath.
A psychopath is a person who is so full of hate and anger that they must control other people and routinely remove their freedom and control them, take from them CONSTANTLY, so as to maintain their miserable sense of self.
You know now that you don’t need that.
He is what he is. You standing up for yourself is honorable, but you don’t need to suffer anymore.
He is on his path you’re on yours- and yours is one of great light.
We support and UNDERSTAND you all the way and you have our blessing.
God bless.
🙂
Private Member |
Hi Z.
Glad you spoke up for yourself.
Frankly, I pretty much stopped watching BodyRock.TV after you left. To me, the other person just was not promoting a positive self image for audience…at some point, this was obvious in some of their FB posts which actually got a lot of people turned off.
It’s quite obvious that you’ve already moved on and your videos are now at the next level. Just keep doing your thing, Z. Your personality and attitude is a big factor that your videos are popular 🙂
Private Member |
Dont worry, you are so beautiful and so strong
Respect 🙂
Private Member |
I’m so glad you wrote this! I believe in what you are doing! I love that your workouts are awesome, wholesome, and use body weight! Go Zuska!
Private Member |
I had a nasty breakup last year with someone i’ve been with for almost 8 years and wanted to have family. I didn’t actually realise in what damaging relationship I lived until I met someone else, who could show me that a partner can be kind, comforting, understanding, not pushing and willing to compromise. I left my ex after he told me to move the fuck out because I didn’t want to sleep with him – same issue as you, Zuzi. I haven’t looked back since. Sometimes you just don’t see who you loved until you don’t love them anymore, and then you are surprised what monster you didn’t want to see.
I’m sending you strength and good vibec. You are a good person and you deserve the best, and you will get it.
Love
Private Member |
You have so much support! We all love ya Zuska!
Private Member |
Very sorry you have to go through all this. You are an amazing person and you deserve so much better. I stopped following bodyrock when you left and so happy you are back with ZWOWs.
Never give up and keep it up!All the best x
Private Member |
My daughter got me started working out with you when you were body rock. I instantly loved your personality and your ability to motivate literally anyone to do there best. I noticed the change on bodyrock and then you were suddenly gone. It was very obvious that you were cut out when other girls started showing up and I can say that I like’d Lisa Marie for a short time although she was different she too was motivating; I continued to look for you and then just did your old workout’s as after a few times I didn’t like the way the workouts on bodyrock were heading and it was changing LIsa Marie. When someone start’s belittling other’s there insecurities shine thru and that for me is a turnoff. I can’t stand drama and that’s all he’s creating. I give you credit for having the ball’s to move forward and becoming successful on your own without stepping down to his level and having a who said, who did what contest. I knew your stuff wouldn’t be free forever and I will continue to enjoy working out with you as I love your workout’s and your spirit. I’m sure this will lift a weight off your shoulder’s and you will continue to thrive. Best of luck from your Iowa fan!!!