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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 |
The whole story is so so sad! You do not deserve this…nobody does. You are an amazing person & I quite admire you, your strength, positivity & will power.
You deserve only the best Zuzana!!!!! You are a beautiful person inside & out!
I’m praying everything works out for the best for you…
Private Member |
Z,
You are the strongest woman I know…physically, spiritually, mentally! I have watched Bodyrock since the beginning and I know that you have tried to move away from being portrayed as a sexual object.
Congrats on accomplishing doing what YOU want to do and becoming who YOU want to be. I am a huge fan of your work. I wish you all the best! Keep your chin up!!
Private Member |
It has been your personality, positive attitude, strength and charisma that has carried you this far and fortunately those are all things that he cannot take away from you or replicate on Bodyrock.tv. For a long time I have seen him post petty, vindictive things on social media aimed at you and I am glad that you finally had enough of the bullying and told your side of the story. And while it may not be any of our business, it shows that you DO value what your followers think of you. You are a force to be reckoned with!
Private Member |
On your side. You are a good person. Support you as always.
Private Member |
Zuzka – your post is spot on – it’s good that you did this. We all love you as a person and that’s why we followed you when you left BR.TV. Keep doing how you do things. It’s not right that you get hurt, but you’re smart. You learn. You surround yourself with good people because you’re good on the inside. I hope this part of your life blows over soon and as painlessly as possible. You have a new life now. Hopefully you can let that support you! You are very strong :o)
Private Member |
Zuzka,
This is a perfect example of a man with a damaged EGO. You rejected him he can not deal with it. His abusive power no longer is effective with you good for you! He truly is a bully. He obviously is incapable of being professional by not keeping your personal life out of business life. You are a talented and intelligent woman. Continue to pursue your career you have found your calling. Prepare for what looks like a long battle and legal process with him for your part of BodyRock. Stay strong and fight for what you worked equally as hard create and made a success.
Private Member |
You are a very, very, very strong girl! I hope you can solve it in the best way. And I hope you can have your part of bodyrock and all what belongs to you.
Don’t be sad never! Here are your fans, through the distance we give you all support and we send you kisses and big hugs!!
Live is hard for everyone, but we must go on. And you are doing it so well. You are a inspiration. Now, you have your own bodyfitness web and the most important: you are making happy thousands and thousands of people, like me!!!
I’ve never been so happy with my body like nowadays, and that’s all for you. Cause you are my inspiration, you have made me love training and my body is changing. Now I’m feeling in the best shape of my life. I’m passing by some money problems (well, me and my family, cause here in Spain there’s a big economical crisis and there’s no work) and I have reasons to give up every day and to be sad. But I don’t give up, I get up every morning thinking about your workouts. I go for a walk with my dog and I go back home quickly to do zwow or zshred. This workouts makes me really happy and give me the power to go on with the big fight here: find a job.
Ok, I don’t want to be bored and so I only say: thanks Zuzka for be our body trainer and our mind trainer.
And if you feel sometimes a little sad, don’t forget this: you are helping lots of people to be happy and to feel better with their bodies.
(sorry if my english is not perfect, I’m also improving it)
kisses and hugs from Spain!!
Private Member |
My sister and I support you all the way. I’m not sure who found you first but since then, we haven’t left. There may be lapses in time where we get lazy but when we do start up again, you’re the first person we’ve watched. Not only do I respect you as a trainer, I also have tons of respect in how you’ve handled your personal situation. We’ve noticed in the past subtle hints of bullying towards you and noticed how you acted like the bigger person. I truly admire you. We’re behind you 100%!!
Private Member |
<3
Sorry it had to come to this.
Private Member |
Don’t worry Zuzka! me and thousands of others love you dearly 😀