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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 |
Zuzka, you are amazing. My work out buddy and I were so confused when you were no longer doing videos and we missed you. We also followed you right over to the ZWOW.
Bodyrock.tv has taken a weird turn since you left. I appreciate your commitment to clean fitness help. Thank you for not making everything about sex or about image. I have enough demons about that without the workouts I’m doing being bombarded with sex and body modification.
You are such a strong and smart woman. You have helped me lose 60lbs. (100 more to go!) Thank you. You make such a difference. Don’t let him squeeze you out of the profits you deserve.
Private Member |
you’re a strong women Zuz.I believe you can build a strong and successful future from your past.
stay strong and healthy.
Private Member |
Tvůj dopis jsem přečetla úplně šokovaná :/ Je mi moc líto, žes tímhle musela projít, aby ses dostala tam, kde jsi teď…Moc mě hřeje u srdce, žes nepodepsala tu dohodu, tvoje workouty ve mě přivodily lásku k fitness 🙂 Freddy může jen závidět a snít o tom, aby byl tak úspěšný jako ty, a ta vyžilá mumie Lisa Marie zrovna tak. Přeju ti hodně síly, energie a hlavně konečně rychlý konec rozvodu! 🙂
Private Member |
After Freddie’s post where he described the marriage as a crazy-house (or something like that) I immediately stopped visiting the website and unsubbed the youtube channel. That post was way more revealing of his true nature than yours, and am so happy you’ve found success and love in LA.
Private Member |
I am so sorry that you have to go through this… Not fair and I’m sure so so frustrating!! But you have fans and we won’t leave you!!!!
Private Member |
Zuzana I am sorry that it had to come to this.. you having to defend yourself. From the moment i read his post this morning, i immediately knew that it was crap and that he was trying to paint you as a mean person when in your videos you exude warmth and friendliness. I immediately unliked his page as well as bodyrock’s page. I could not support a person who was taking such a serious topic and utilizing it in such a deceitful manner. But don’t worry, God doesn’t sleep. He sees all! And he will guide you through this situation. I am happy that you are not letting this bully push you around! Always maintain the class that you have and don’t let this jealous fool walk all over you. Keep on keeping on!
Private Member |
Every thing happens for a reason, and for me as a consumer I am so much happier with your product. You will be way more successful than Freddy could ever dream of being. You have a genuinely good heart, and it shows through your workouts! love you Z!
Private Member |
Dear Zuzanna, even though I usually don’t like to read so much privacy online, I could feel you hold it for long and it was really needed. I know divorces are never easy and then we finally realize the monster nature in our partner. I’m glad you wrote about everything-even though I enjoyed your videos from bodyrock, I hated those images of boobs, and so did my friends. The “new” you is so so much more natural (and more sexy too, natural IS sexy!).
Please, don’t worry about people thinking bad about you after Freddie’s comments, those who see couple of your videos, definitely like your friendly opened and pure nature and don’t believe all the dirt thrown at you. So much different from bodyrock, which has nowadays mostly sarcastic and arrogant comments (despite many views!). I hope you can finally get rid of these problems and your present and future will soon not be shadowed from the past.
Private Member |
I’ve been with and following you before Mediterranean – Malta, I’ve watch you through all your ups and down and now ups again. Although I don’t know you in real life I kind of feel like I do, I did read what your soon to be x wrote and was so shocked and sadden by what I read. Abuse is nothing to use to get back at someone…it’s real to many women and men out there. I’ve always viewed you as a down to earth, sweet, and real person so to read this broken my heart. I did all your ZWOW’s I’ve bought all your DVDS, and now your ZGYM, I couldn’t believe that I was supporting an abuser 🙁 Thank you Z so much for tell us the “other” side of the story and finally standing up for yourself. You are a true winner and survivor xoxo
Private Member |
I knew something fishy was going on.
I didn t mind the camera in your cleavage and elsewhere but if you did mind it indeed had to go away; know though that your ‘presence’ on camera, your charisma isn t limited to how sexy you are.
It is a gift and regardless of what you do you are always a treat to watch(even if you just open mail, or do some gardening ^^).
THIS, this presence this connection you make with the cam, he can t get that from you.
FIGHT for what you are due, be a warrior.
I m glad you decided at long last to share with us.
He might have been frustrated because he realised long ago that YOU are the one drawing in people not just your body.
I really think the show zwow has much more quality content than what bodyrock.tv offered. I know it was a painful time for you and others. but i am glad you left. oh so glad.
I wish you happiness.