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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 |
Zuzana, I read Freddie’s post this morning as it came up in my Facebook feed (didn’t realize I was still subscribed to his stuff on Facebook at all?!) and what I read made me feel sick. Immediately I thought what the hell kind of ‘marketing’ is he trying to do with this and that it was in very poor taste to put all of that stuff up on the internet. That he did put all of that stuff up on the internet, for all to see, led me to believe that it was a move to defame you. I have known people in abusive relationships and while I can’t paint everybody with the same brush, survivors of abusive relationships generally aren’t quick to tell the entire world via the internet of their painful story; Such intimate and personal details are hard to share and thus usually are shared only with those who are the closest to them.
As soon as you left Bodyrock, it became a hot bed of controversy. It was sad because Bodyrock is actually what helped me to begin my lifestyle of health and fitness and before Bodyrock, I couldn’t do a single pull up and now I work in a circus doing incredible physical things that I never thought I would be able to do – and even though to me you are an internet personality, I thank you for the encouragement and motivation that you provided me.
Lisa-Marie plays the trope of the hypersexualized female in fitness that it makes it hard to take her seriously. It made me angry that Bodyrock had become part of the problem of what women usually have to suffer in the fitness world — being more sexual beings rather than inspiration for health. A video of Lisa-Marie in underwear and closeups of her cleavage did not inspire my training in the slightest. It became obvious that Freddie was more interested in getting viewers at any means…even if it just meant dudes following it for purposes other than to train.
The censorship of Bodyrock and the types of posts he has (such as his entitled view of how Lululemon is entitled for not making Bodyrock, a for-profit company, an ambassador…meanwhile my sister has volunteered over hundreds of hours in the yoga community before she became an ambassador) gives a window into the type of personalities of the people who are now a part of Bodyrock.
I’m sorry to hear of what you have had to go through. I really suggest you collect a catalogue of all of the things that he has been doing and go after him for defamation. It might be worth it to talk to a lawyer about it at least. Again, I’m sorry you have to go through this shit. I don’t even know you and it makes me so angry and sad 🙁
Private Member |
I know what you mean. This is just another controversy for Freddy to generate views and comments with. Except it’s about his current wife. It is so Sean on the toilet and Lisa-Marie getting implants two sizes to large for her body. There are tons of reasons to see Freddy is making stuff up as he did in the past. –Chris
Private Member |
I agree. Freddy’s ‘views by any means necessary approach’ is getting beyond a joke. This blog post is possibly one of the nastiest, tackiest things I’ve ever seen since they split up. He’s like an angry child who throwing his toys around. He’s not behaving like a man, but like a stupid, petulant little boy.
Private Member |
Love ya! Stay strong!
You were the reason I loved bodyrocker.tv, you motivated me to get moving. Keep doing you. I did notice what you spoke about in regards to butt and breast shots… I love your new workouts and will be joining your new site soon. Keep your head up! I’m(and I’m sure a million others) are behind you 100%.
Private Member |
Zuz, I never, not even 1 %, was in doubt that what you just told us here was happening in the backside of the story. I am just grossed out by the disgusting asshole your ex turned out to be. I never liked him and now I can clearly state I hate him!
Please don’t give him what he wants and fight for your 49% of BR. You deserve it much more than he does and I want you to make him pay for what he did to you.
Much love from me and my 7 years daughter which does burpees everywhere with me 🙂
Ellie
Private Member |
Hi Zuzka,
I am glad you are standing up for yourself. You made BodyRock TV and i will always believe that! I am sad that your ex has done that to you but i am glad you are sticking up for yourself now. You are amazing and i love your videos and will always support you!
Thanks for being a great inspiration to me! Angeli xx
Private Member |
I think anyone who followed you during the transition phase from BodyRock to where you are now would have known that this was the truth all along. BodyRock seems to have devolved into soft-core porn, whereas Zuzka’s site is for people who want to get fit (of course she’s attractive as well).
It’s always sad when a loving relationship breaks up, but in this case, it certainly seems to be for the best, and I would say you’ve gained more than you’ve lost.
Best
Private Member |
I agree, this must be for the best of Zuzana!! She wasn’t supposed to work in a soft porn industry, she belongs to health & fitness industry!!!
Private Member |
You go zuzka! You are the reason I now love burpees, I dont even know how you did that! But it was you that made people love bodyrock! I have seen lots of the negative comments directed toward you and they are all in very bad taste. And then they cry why does everyone say bad things about them and not you. Negativity attracts more negativity. I am happy for you to tell your side and you just keep doing you because that is what we have all grown to love you for! Your positivity, compassion and true love for your fans and helping others get healthy and fit! Warrior Z 4 ever!
Private Member |
I saw his blog write when he posted it. Ridiculous this has to happen and air your dirty laundry on the internet for everyone one to see forever. Good luck to you!
Private Member |
so, I’ve been following you for years, even on bodyrock… as soon as you were gona I felt like something wasn’t right….and yes, they are wayyy to sexualized and embarrassing now. I never felt that way with you on. You are so genuine in the way you speak, you motivate me more than any other trainer I’ve found because of that. I don’t know how anyone could ever believe his stories for that reason also. A person can just tell how big your heart is from one session. Thank you for sharing your story and thank you for not giving up! Thank God that you got out of that situation. I am so glad you are happy!
Private Member |
I have followed you forever…as well as Freddy. It is so disconcerting to see all this dirty laundry public…..I am beginning to side with you, even though it is hard to really know who is telling the truth. I can not see you beating Freddy up….and Lisa…with her fake everything…I know Freddy has got to be behind it. It’s too bad. All this stuff….I have my own crap to deal with…working out is my mental release. This whole ordeal has ruined my escape. I’m sorry for you….men who bully and control should have their manhood slowly removed with a dull butter knife.
Good luck.
Private Member |
You are a well-respected figure in the fitness community. Stand tall and stand proud!! YOU ROCK 🙂