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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 |
It’s awful that it got to this point, but this too shall pass. You are a beautiful, young, smart and strong woman. Freddy, while i’m sure has his good side, won’t change people’s lives or how the feel and think, like you have. Bodyrock put aside, you were the soul of it and when that soul was gone, Bodyrock was just another fitness blog with a host that (in my opinion) could never fill your shoes. It’s very messed up that he is trying to go legal on you, but just know that everything done in ill intention, will come back to him tenfold. Defend yourself! You have an army behind you!
Private Member |
Only the two of you know what happened when you were together.
But you behaved like a decent and mature person, you never talked shit about him (unlike him).
And that deserves respect and support.
Private Member |
I have been following you Z, since beg 2012 when I discouvered BR and ZWOWS, I kind of pieced this together by reading posts, ect… I have to say that you are SUCH an amazing trainer & genuine beautiful person inside and out! Thank you for continuing ur passion for all of us to look up to, you make a wonderful fighter & role model. I wish you nothing but happiness, positive ness, and good will! Thank you for sharing, as you certainly are not obligated to tell millions such personal details about your life. It all just speaks to what a lovely good person you are. I was drawn to you immediately and now can see why even more so, much of what u say personally speaks to me. I will continue to follow and support you’re media and career first & foremost, I believe in all your morals / standards as well. I am also a member of Zgym and own all your DVDs! Don’t mind supporting at all! I believe in what you are accomplishing. Stay strong and kind : ) would love to meet you one day!
Private Member |
You just solidified the fact that I made the right choice of joining Zgym. Even though I know you didn’t want to disclose all of this, I think it will help clear the air. You have so many supportive messages on here and the Bodyrock FB page is getting bombarded with negative comments. Karma is a… well, you know. It’s you and only you who made the Bodyrock brand what it was. I’m so glad you have the opportunity now to be successful on your own without a control freak.
Private Member |
Zuz, I am so happy you made this post. From the very start we were let to believe from Freddie that you had cheated on him and used him. Although you are just internet personalities and we don’t know you as well as we like to think we do, I had a hard time believing that this was true.
Even though this was the only info we had to go on I still opted to follow you over bodyrock.tv because I love the way you interact with the camera. Everything you do seems to be perfect for the industry you are in.
And the comments you made about the sexualixation thing stood out to me too. I didn’t think that was nessesary before but the whole time that is what I thought you wanted so I was ok with it because I thought that is what made you comfortable. But you are sexy enough on your own that you don’t have to be half naked to show that. And it is pretty ironic when BR.TV have got themselves into a lot of trouble with how much they sexualize things quite a bit ever since Lisa has been on.
I always thought there was another side to the story but I didn’t want to be one of the ones pushing it because you have the right to your private life. And I think aloth of us think that just because we see you in your blog every week that we are entitled to be filled in on all details of your life but we done. However I am very grateful that you chose to share this with us because many of us have been very involved with BR.tv and were left in the dark when you dropped off the map.
I hope things go in your favor when it comes to sorting out the legals of bodyrock.tv and I know you will be very successful from here on out because you were many of our whole reason for ever following body rock. Keep doing what your doing and good things will follow!
Love ya Zuz, and all that you do.
We are here to support you!
Kaley
Private Member |
Well I was an avid bodyrock fan and when you left I was extremely upset. Once the “new girl” came on I realized I wasn’t excited about workouts or what they were showing on their video’s. I felt like I was watching soft porn and felt guilty about watching them. I was so happy to see you back in action and love your messages about being happy with yourself. Your an inspiration and keep doing what your doing, don’t let people bring you down. Xoxo
Private Member |
Well I was an avid bodyrock fan and when you left I was extremely upset. Once the “new girl” came on I realized I wasn’t excited about workouts or what they were showing on their video’s. I felt like I was watching soft porn and felt guilty about watching them. I was so happy to see you back in action and love your messages about being happy with yourself. Your an inspiration and keep doing what your doing, don’t let people bring you down. Xoxo
Private Member |
Hey keep up the good work. Without you body rock doesn’t rock. And for this mean guy don’t worry what goes around comes around. Karma will get him.
Keep smilin you are awesome!
Private Member |
lots of nasty when a relationship turns.
Private Member |
I’m glad you made it through all of that. I actually started watching BodyRock.tv videos with Lisa Marie as a host. I liked them well enough but when I found videos with you as the host I found it a lot easier to connect with you. You just seem to have a much more personal connection with the people you share your workouts with.
I don’t mean to compare the two of you (even though I just did, I’m sorry) but I’m just trying to say I really enjoy the direction you’ve taken your career as opposed to how BodyRock is being run now. I’m glad you’re out of a controlling relationship and I’m happy you’ve been able to make your passion into something you can also make a living from. Much love <3