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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,
Thank you for sharing! I pray for a quick divorce and peace in your situation. I am going through a similar situation with my ex-husband. 3 years later, he still tries to sue me and abuse me!!! Stay strong my dear and know that all of us Zwarriors stand behind you!
Private Member |
Hi Zuzka,
this is the FIRST TIME EVER I am writing a comment on your page. I just feel like letting you know that I think you are an extremely strong woman. And I am not the only one :-). Look at all those comments. Please just keep goingand do what you love. Try to ignore bodyrock or Freddy. Sadly, this is exactly how most men behave when you leave them (hopefully there are some who own a bit more dignity). They do not know how to cope with their loss and broken ego. Just keep going and focus on your future 🙂 All the best! Karla
Private Member |
BodyRock or the Daily hit is on its way out. They are their own PR nightmare.
I wouldn’t be surprised if LisaMarie ends up at your door, boobs in hand (well I guess they are in the trash now), looking for a job.
She is a follower, not a leader, and once Freddy is done with her, she will not be able to start something on her own. She doesn’t know how.
You on the other hand went out on your own and kept going.
I remember your new videos were shot in a dingy doorway and I thought that was admirable. It was if you were saying “go with what you got, don’t worry about what you don’t have”.
Your a good egg. Keep going.
Private Member |
Whilst we’ve all read the c**p your ex has written about you, I don’t think any of us believed it and just saw him for the bitter, twisted and angry person he is. Anyone who followed you on BodyRock would have known the genuine person you are and would not have been tricked in to thinking otherwise by his rants. Stay strong girl, you’re worth a zillion of him. Big love & hugs xxx
Private Member |
I stopped watching the BodyRock videos after you left, more and moer kit was appearing and the videos just got ridicuously sexual.
What you do is fabulous and I was so excited when I saw your ZWOWs on YouTube. Once again I am back doing bodyweight circuits and it’s all thanks to you.
The direction you have gone in is a far better one and I wish you all the best in both your professional and personal life xoxo
Private Member |
I started following BodyRock.Tv after you left, Zuzana, but when I discover your website, OMG, it’s 10000 times better in all ways than BodyRock.Tv, when I saw how Lisa-Marie was changing I got the point, so I don’t follow them anymore, so sorry for everything you’ve been through 🙁
Private Member |
Zuzka,
You, and you alone are the reason I ever took notice of bodyrock, and then became a fan. Your personality shone through the videos, and brightened my day. The workouts were just an added bonus.
Bodyrock lost its sparkle when it lost you, and it lost its integrity and it lost its honesty. You did yourself a huge favor when you removed Freddy from your life, and I feel very sad for Lisa-Marie. Your courage is truly commendable.
If you ever needing anything, and you asked me, I would be here for you. I am so inspired by your strength and wish you all the best in this trial and in all your future endeavors. You will thrive!
Lots of love,
Marie
p.s. I hope your lawyer is able to argue the case that Daily HIIT is merely a name and venue-change from Bodyrock. Freddy cannot argue that he created a new business, when the valuable part of the business – the FANS – he channeled directly from Bodyrock to the new site.
p.p.s. I once put a link to a skin cancer website into the comments section on Daily HIIT, on a post where Lisa-Marie was yet again baking herself in the sun. Being healthy isn’t about selecting the “healthy” things that you like and ignoring the ones (that kill you) that mean you might have to give up something you want. Her words speak of “health” but her actions speak only of prioritizing “looks”. For my one link to a skin cancer awareness website they blocked me from ever being able to comment again. a**holes.
Private Member |
It`s very sad story. I never thought that Freddy would be such a person. You`re not competitors because on the Internet a lot of free fitness blogs.
Be strong, Z, I believe in you and I’ll follow you. I watched many online fitness workouts, but only you was a person who changed my life. Your way is best for me. I am very grateful to you for all you`re doing.
I like your smile. Please, be strong.
Private Member |
Zuzka – I don’t know you in ‘real life’ – but I feel like I do. I’ve been following you for years now, and what you do, what you stand for, shines through no matter how people like Freddy try to convince otherwise.
You are a good and decent human being, and quite frankly, Freddy is not. You stood by and let him have his temper tantrum, did everything you could to help him get through it, and then some. He has been riding on your coat tails since the break up. To make you sign a non-compete when you ARE (and forever will be) BodyRock is beyond ludicrous.
He knows all this, but it’s all he has left of you, so he hangs on with all his might and uses Lisa Marie as some bizarre stand in, molding her like play-dough into some Barbie-esque likeness that has neither the personality nor charisma for the role she was forced into.
The real fans, we know who you are. I love that you are still here, I love that you are standing up for yourself, and finally explaining it – but even if you had never said a word – we knew better, and we Love you.
Stay strong. <3
Private Member |
it didn’t take long after you left to see Freddy was turning Lisa Marie into a puppet. All the fakeness and lip injections. BLAH! Left bodyrock for you a long time ago. I also felt he turned photos into soft porn. Good luck Zuska. You have far more integrity and true friends than he ever will.